Lucas Giolito opts to return to Red Sox in 2025 after missing 2024 season

Lucas Giolito has opted to return to the Boston Red Sox in 2025, exercising his $19 million player option. He missed the entire 2024 season due to elbow surgery. Giolito, 30, signed with the Red Sox as a free agent last December. He is expected to join a starting rotation that includes Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford. In previous seasons, Giolito had strong performances with the White Sox but struggled in 2022 and 2023. He had a 4.88 ERA in 2023 across 33 starts with three teams.