Lucas Giolito’s future in Boston uncertain as Red Sox mull qualifying offer, other team roster moves

Lucas Giolito helped stabilize the Red Sox’ rotation last season before missing the postseason with an elbow injury.

The veteran arm was one of the anchors within Alex Cora’s rotation alongside Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello as Boston went through the grind of the summer.

Once the World Series crowns a winner, it’s expected that Giolito will decline his portion of a $19 million mutual option, and then the Red Sox will need to decide if they want to give him a qualifying offer.

The qualifying offer is worth $22.025 million, and if he were to decline that and sign elsewhere in free agency, the Sox would receive draft pick compensation.

Giolito had a solid season both on and off the field, serving as one of the leaders of the pitching staff while recording a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts. He made $19 million last season and will collect a $1.5 million buyout on the mutual option. If the Sox were to place the qualifying offer on the veteran, it would not be a significant bump in salary.

Unfortunately, health derailed his opportunity to help the Red Sox in the postseason, as he suffered a right elbow injury towards the end of the regular season, prompting the Sox to shut him down for the playoffs.

As Giolito embarks on the offseason, teams around the game will have questions as to the health of his pitching elbow, despite him saying there was no structural damage to his arm and that he was diagnosed with irritation in his flexor tendon.

MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported on Friday that one source said Giolito is “100%” and on a regular throwing program. He also added a second source said that the right-hander is “making improvements with his throwing timeline set to be guided by his offseason ramp-up.”

One bonus for the Red Sox as they navigate whether or not to place the QO on Giolito is that they have all the information as to where he is at medically.

Boston needs to address its rotation for next season, with Crochet and Bello penciled atop the depth chart. Tanner Houck will miss a considerable amount of time as he recovers from Tommy John.

Houck will likely get around $3.5 to $4 million next season as he is stashed away rehabbing. He could be a candidate to be designated for assignment if the club wants to free up his roster spot.

The Sox have both Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, and Kyle Harrison, who impressed and should get a look in spring training, and they will also have Patrick Sandoval back from his rehab from Tommy John's surgery. Kutter Crawford is expected in camp fully healthy, coming off missing all of last year with a knee issue and wrist surgery.

Giolito’s veteran presence is important; the Sox haven’t had a true veteran leader in the rotation since Nathan Eovaldi. If they let him walk, they could get draft pick compensation similar to the No. 75 overall pick when Nick Pivetta declined the QO and signed with the Padres. Boston not tagging Giolito would be a dead giveaway that his elbow issues are worse than anticipated.

Whether or not Giolito returns to the Red Sox, Craig Breslow will need to add a legitimate No. 2 starter to slot behind Crochet. All eyes will be on the Twins’ Joe Ryan, but others like MacKenzie Gore, Framer Valdez, Ranger Saurez, Hunter Greene, Dylan Cease, Michael King, Shane Bieber, and Zac Gallen are all options.

Greene is an intriguing option to add to the rotation, but he will cost the Sox. Injuries have limited Greene in every season of his young career so far, and he’s only produced career highs of 150 innings pitched and 26 starts in a single season.

I don’t get the sense that Tarik Skubal is a viable option and that Boston will likely look to obtain a controllable asset and use money to bring in much-needed bats for their lineup.

There’s risk in bringing Giolito back, but he’ll be cheaper than some of the trade options mentioned above. The Sox can easily bring him back, slot him as the No. 4 in the rotation, add a legitimate No. 2, and go with one of the kids or even Sandoval as their No. 5 heading into the regular season.

CHAPMAN HATES THE YANKEES?

Red Sox All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman wouldn’t entertain a reunion with the Yankees.

“No. Not even if I was dead,” the 37-year-old said in Spanish in a recent interview on the Swing Completo Podcast. He told the podcasters that recently, if a team traded him to the Yankees, he’d rather retire than play in pinstripes again.

“If you sent me to New York, I’d pack up my things and go home right now. And I’m done. I’ll retire right here, in Kansas City (his team at the start of 2023). You’re crazy,” added Chapman.

Chapman had two stints with the Yankees—in 2016, when he arrived in an offseason trade and was traded to the Cubs at that year’s deadline, and again from 2017 to 2022. He earned three All-Star appearances, converted 124 saves, and had a 2.48 ERA.

In his final year in the Bronx, he posted a 4.46 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP before the middle of the season. He spent time on the injured list after a leg tattoo became infected. He skipped a team practice during the postseason and was left off the ALDS roster.

“I felt very disrespected,” he told Swing Completo. “I put up with a lot of things that whole year. I knew they wanted me out. I knew they wanted that. They wanted to get rid of me, but they didn’t know how. And I just endured it silently. Playing badly, but I did what I always do. I carried the same attitude, same as always. Everyone, all the players—we all spent time together. I never had a problem with anyone. Same with the manager (Aaron Boone). The manager is a friend of mine. We talked and everything. They were doing their own thing. The bosses upstairs are who call the shots.”

Chapman signed an extension with the Red Sox that will keep him in Boston for next season, and there is a mutual option for 2027.

BACKSTOP ADDED

Earlier this week, the Red Sox signed veteran catcher Jason Delay to a minor league deal. It’s not clear yet, but the deal likely includes an invite to spring training.

Delay, 30, has nine years of professional baseball experience, including appearing in 134 big league games over three seasons with the Pirates from 2022 to 2024. He made 107 starts, hitting .231 with two homers, 35 RBI, and a .610 OPS in 373 plate appearances.

He spent last season with the Braves’ organization after he was traded for cash considerations in April. In 68 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Delay hit .200 with a .518 OPS.

The addition of Delay gives Boston a veteran presence for the WooSox next season, similar to Seby Zavala. Unless Boston makes an impact signing or trade at the position, Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong should project as the top catching options on the 26-man roster in 2026.

Both Narvaez and Wong underwent different surgical procedures this offseason and are expected to be ready for spring training. Narvaez had meniscus “clean-up” surgery on his knee, and Wong underwent a minor surgical procedure last week, a right-hand carpal boss excision.

The issue could have been a contributing factor as to why Wong struggled offensively this season. Wong hit .190/.262/.238 with no homers in 63 games this year. Narváez became the Sox’ everyday catcher after Wong spent time on the injured list with a broken pinkie and his offensive issues at the plate.

Last season, the Sox had a series of veteran catchers within the organization, including Blake Sabol, Chadwick Tromp, Yasmani Grandal, and Zavala. Mark Kolozsvary and Rolando Hernandez were stashed between Portland and Worcester at points, with Sabol being the only player of that group to see any time with the Red Sox.

MiLB DEALS

The Sox also re-signed left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera and right-hander Reidis Sena to minor-league contracts.

Rivera, 22, was originally selected by the Athletics in the 11th round of the 2021 draft out of Colegio Cadest in Puerto Rico. He joined the Red Sox organization last season after signing a minor league pact. Rivera pitched between two levels of the Sox’ system, finishing the year with the Portland Sea Dogs. The lefty pitched in 20 games, posting a 2.48 ERA, making 15 starts between Greenville and Portland.

Sena, 24, is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this December but is highly unlikely to be added to the 40-man roster. The righty spent last season with the Sea Dogs, pitching in 25 games, making two starts, and recording a 3.46 ERA in 41 2/3 innings of work. He was assigned to the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League on October 15 but has yet to appear in a game for the club.