Lucas Giolito Reportedly Declines $14M Red Sox Contract Option, Becomes FA

After his bounce-back 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox, starting pitcher Lucas Giolito will have a new home next year.

Per Alex Spier of the Boston Globe, Giolito declined his part of the mutual option in his contract, making him a free agent.

Giolito is coming off a resurgent year after missing the entire 2024 season due to undergoing an internal brace procedure to repair the UCL in his right elbow. The last time he was seen on the mound in 2023, he struggled after splitting the year with three different teams and posted a combined 8-15 record and 4.88 ERA.

The 31-year-old returned to form in 2025, going 10-4 in 26 starts with a 3.41 ERA and 121 strikeouts.

Giolito's impressive year helped the Red Sox finish with an 89-37 record and make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Unfortunately, he suffered an elbow injury toward the end of the year and wasn't available to pitch in the postseason. Boston was eliminated by the rival New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card Series.

Giolito should be one of the most popular names on the open market this winter, as he proved that he still has what it takes to be a reliable starter near the top of any rotation.