Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito experienced discomfort in his right elbow after his most recent throwing session. Manager Alex Cora announced the news Tuesday morning. Giolito has made two starts this spring that saw him throw two scoreless innings in his debut. Then a rocky effort on Friday, allowing four runs and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. Giolito, 29, signed with the Red Sox on a one-year deal in January that includes a 2025 player option that’s worth up to $38.5 million.
“He’ll undergo additional testing to determine the root of the issue. It’s not a good day for us,” Cora said. He also concluded that Giolito will likely start the season on the injury list. He’ll receive additional options before any decision is made, but season-ending surgery is a possibility.
Brutal news: Initial imaging showed Boston Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito likely has a partially torn UCL and flexor strain and could miss the 2024 season, league sources tell ESPN. Giolito, who signed a two-year deal with Boston, may need surgery to repair the right-elbow damage.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 5, 2024
Elbow Discomfort Likely to Sideline Lucas Giolito
Prior to 2023, Giolito had spent six seasons with the Chicago White Sox, who acquired him from the Washington Nationals in December 2016. Giolito’s best season came in 2019 when he went 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA in 176 2/3 innings. In a three-year stretch from 2019 to 2021, Giolito was one of the top starters in the American League. He went 29-21 with a 3.47 ERA over 72 starts, holding batters to a .207 average over that span. He finished with a 3.48 and 3.53 ERA respectively in 2020 and 2021. Unfortunately for Giolito, he posted a 4.89 ERA over the past two seasons, leading the American League with 41 home runs allowed in 2023.
After Giolito was traded to the Los Angeles Angels, his season went downhill further. He posted a 6.89 ERA in six starts. The Cleveland Guardians later claimed him off waivers as he posted a 7.04 ERA in six starts with the club/
It remains to be seen how bad things are for Giolito. In the meantime, Brayan Bello will likely be the Red Sox Opening Day starter. Plus, that will likely open an additional rotation spot between Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck and Josh Winckowski. The trio of pitchers could take turns in the rotation for maybe the entirety of the upcoming season. Boston now has the opportunity to make additional moves to help ease the blow.
Does It Open the Door for Jordan Montgomery?
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Sunday that MLB executives “wildly believe” that Jordan Montgomery will sign with the Red Sox. The Angels and San Francisco Giants are the other front-runners for the free agent left-hander. Montgomery seems like a no-brainer addition for Boston, especially if Giolito is out for the season.
“The Red Sox have kept in constant contact with Montgomery while the Texas Rangers Rangers are keeping tabs if owner Ray Davis suddenly changes his mind,” Nightengale wrote.
Signing Montgomery will fill a massive hole in the Red Sox rotation. They desperately need a top-end starter after Giolito’s injury and trading Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves. Considering the news of Giolito and Vaughn Grissom‘s injury woes, the Red Sox can’t afford to wait much longer.
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