Lucas Giolito was anticipated to be a crucial element of the Boston Red Sox’s starting rotation, having inked a substantial two-year, $38.5 million contract in January. However, recent developments suggest his entire 2024 season might be in jeopardy due to a potential UCL tear.
Unfortunately, there’s bleak news for those optimistic about the situation. Each passing day without improvement seems to worsen Giolito’s contract situation, akin to the gradual spoilage of warm milk.
Red Sox insider Rob Bradford has disclosed that the team has not insured Giolito’s contract, meaning they won’t receive any financial relief for his $18 million salary this year if he’s unable to play.
On one hand, it’s understandable why the Red Sox may have foregone insurance. Apart from a Tommy John surgery during his minor league stint in 2012, Giolito has maintained good health throughout his MLB career, consistently making a high number of starts each season.
However, the lack of insurance appears to be another misstep during Craig Breslow’s tenure as Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer. Given the substantial investment in Giolito, it’s surprising that the contract wasn’t at least partially insured. This oversight, compounded by Giolito’s injury, could deter the Red Sox from pursuing further high-profile free agents, as they’ve expressed intentions to keep payroll expenditures modest.
Should Giolito’s injury prove severe, requiring a second Tommy John surgery, he could miss the entirety of the 2024 season and possibly part of 2025.
With limited experienced starters in the rotation, aside from Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello, the Red Sox might need to explore acquiring more seasoned pitchers, particularly if they aim to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Currently, FanDuel Sportsbook heavily favors the Red Sox to miss the 2024 MLB postseason, reflecting an implied probability of 83.3%.
