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Several notable players remain available in free agency — including former All-Star Lucas Giolito.
The starting pitcher re-entered the market after the Red Sox declined to extend him a qualifying offer this offseason, and he’s currently in wait-and-see mode as the calendar flips to 2026.
“It’s different in that around this time last free agency, I was signed or just about to sign,” Giolito told host Rob Bradford Monday on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast.
“This time, it’s crickets.”
Giolito, 31, is coming off a strong comeback season, going 10–4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts before an elbow injury sidelined him for Boston’s postseason series against the Yankees.
The former first-round pick — who drew interest from the Mets before signing with Boston — missed all of 2024 after undergoing surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Between the injury and disastrous results from 2022–23, the 2019 AL All-Star said he’s using that experience to stay calm about his current market.
“For example, my last free agency I was coming off a really bad couple of months. My stats were horrible. I was stressing during free agency,” Giolito said. “I went from a $100-plus-million pitcher to having two mediocre seasons that completely shattered my market. What’s going to happen? What kind of deal am I going to get? Where am I going to go?’
“I would stress out about it — and I ended up finding a wonderful landing spot. I cherish my time with the Red Sox. But this time around, it’s like, ‘Okay, relax. It’s going to take care of itself.’ I’ve been with my agent for so long. He’s really great at his job. Let him do his job. Let me do my job. And we’ll go from there.”
Giolito praised his experience in Boston, but noted the club’s additions of starters Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo likely close the door on a reunion.
“I loved it there and I would have loved to go back,” he said. “I still would, but if you look at the writing on the wall, I don’t think they need another starting pitcher.
“That’s business, baby! That’s how it goes.”
Outside of Dylan Cease (Blue Jays) and Michael King (Padres), the starting-pitching market has not gained much traction.
Giolito pointed to fellow former All-Stars Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen as pitchers whose statuses could shape how the market develops.
Japanese star Tatsuya Imai — who must sign ahead of his Jan. 2 deadline — is also in the mix for MLB teams.
Other notable arms, including veterans Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt, also remain unsigned.
Giolito said he’s prioritizing teams with clear paths to the postseason – and hopes to sign with a team sooner rather than later.
“Just have to wait for that January push,” Giolito said. “I think it’s the nature of baseball free agency — it goes in waves. There’s no deadline, so it just goes with the flow. You see guys signing during spring training. I hope that’s not the case for me; no player wants to be in that position.”
In nine MLB seasons, Giolito owns a 71–66 record with a 4.30 ERA across stints with the Nationals, White Sox, Guardians, Angels and Red Sox.
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