Red Sox agree to one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today signed right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito to a one-year contract for the 2024 season, with a player option for 2025. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated right-handed pitcher Mauricio Llovera for assignment.

Giolito, 29, received votes for the American League Cy Young Award in each season from 2019-21, also earning a 2019 All-Star selection. The right-hander has made at least 30 starts in each of the last three seasons (2021-23), and since the start of 2018 he ranks among AL leaders in starts (3^rd, 167), innings pitched (3^rd, 947.0), strikeouts (2^nd, 1,032), and complete games (T-3^rd, five). Selected by Washington in the first round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft (No. 16 overall), he has pitched in 180 games (178 starts) for the Nationals (2016), Chicago White Sox (2017-23), Los Angeles Angels (2023), and Cleveland Guardians (2023), going 61-62 with a 4.43 ERA (499 ER/1,013.2 IP).

In 2023, Giolito posted a 3.79 ERA (51 ER/121.0 IP) in 21 starts with the White Sox before making six starts with the Angels and six with the Guardians. In 33 starts overall, he was 8-15 with a 4.88 ERA (100 ER/184.1 IP), 204 strikeouts, and 73 walks. Giolito recorded a 2.92 ERA (12 ER/37.0 IP) in six starts against AL East clubs last season, notably throwing 6.0 scoreless, hitless innings in Yankee Stadium for the White Sox on June 6.

Llovera, 27, was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on July 26, 2023, and recorded a 5.46 ERA (18 ER/29.2 IP) in 25 games for the Red Sox. The right-hander also made five appearances with the Giants last season, allowing one run in 5.1 innings. Originally signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as a non-drafted free agent on December 14, 2014, the Venezuela native owns a 5.80 ERA (38 ER/59.0 IP) in 54 career Major League games (one start) with the Phillies (2020-21), Giants (2022-23), and Red Sox (2023).

BOSTON RED SOX 40-MAN ROSTER (40)

Pitchers (24): Brayan Bello, Brennan Bernardino, Isaiah Campbell, Max Castillo, Kutter Crawford, Cooper Criswell, Lucas Giolito, Wikelman Gonzalez, Tanner Houck, Joe Jacques, Kenley Jansen, Zack Kelly, Chris Martin, Bryan Mata, Chris Murphy, Luis Perales, Nick Pivetta, John Schreiber, Justin Slaten, Brandon Walter, Zack Weiss, Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski

Catchers (2): Reese McGuire, Connor Wong

Infielders (7): Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, Vaughn Grissom, David Hamilton, Trevor Story, Enmanuel Valdez

Outfielders (5): Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neill, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida

Infielder/Outfielders (2): Ceddanne Rafaela, Pablo Reyes