Lucas Giolito is “drawing interest” from the Red Sox, reported MLB Network’s Jon Morosi on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old right-hander could be an attention-grabbing challenge for Andrew Bailey, the previous Red Sox reliever who simply returned to be their new pitching coach.
Giolito, 29, break up the 2023 season between the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians. Despite the tumult of a three-team season, he made 33 begins – tied for the American League lead – and a career-high 184.1 innings pitched.
Not way back, the right-hander was one of many sport’s most dominant pitchers. Between 2019-21, he posted a 3.47 ERA throughout 72 begins (427.2 IP), and completed between sixth and eleventh in AL Cy Young voting every season.
However, whereas Giolito continues to be sturdy, he hasn’t been as dominant. Over the final two seasons, he posted a 4.89 ERA throughout 63 begins (346 IP), and gave up a career- and league-worst 41 dwelling runs this yr. After placing out 27.9% of batters confronted in 2021, he struck out 25.5% in subsequent seasons. Since 2020, he’s been hit more and more onerous: from an 86.8 mph common exit velocity to 89.1 mph this yr. Between ’21 and ’23, his hard-hit charge jumped from 24.4% to 41.6%, and his stroll charge climbed from 7.2% to 9.2%.
In different phrases, he may benefit from working with Boston’s new pitching coach. Prior to returning to Boston final month, Bailey labored wonders in the identical position for San Francisco. In 2021, the Giants’ 3.25 ERA was second solely to that of their rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Overall in his four-season tenure, the Giants ranked third within the Majors in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.16), sixth in ERA (3.80), and allowed the fewest dwelling runs (525). Several pitchers excelled beneath Bailey’s watch, together with veteran starters Alex Cobb, Kevin Gausman and Carlos Rodon.
Morosi additionally listed the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and Kansas City Royals among the many events.
Source: www.bostonherald.com