The Boston Red Sox have made a significant move in the offseason, securing free agent pitcher Lucas Giolito on a two-year deal worth $38.5 million. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the contract includes an opt-out after the first season, effectively making it a one-year deal with a player option.

The signing of Lucas Giolito marks the first major move for the Red Sox this winter, sparking excitement among fans. However, the big question now is whether there will be more signings to come for the team.

Giolito, a right-hander, was once highly regarded as a valuable asset for the Chicago White Sox. Unfortunately, his performance in the past couple of years has not lived up to expectations. Despite this, he managed to bounce back and become a sought-after player at this year's trade deadline. However, the Los Angeles Angels, who acquired him in exchange for two significant prospects, quickly released him shortly afterward to stay under the CBT threshold.

Subsequently, the Cleveland Guardians claimed Giolito on waivers with disappointing results. The 29-year-old struggled, posting the worst statistics of his career. In just 30 2/3 innings, he allowed 24 earned runs, issued 16 walks, and gave up 11 home runs.

Despite a 4.89 ERA since 2022, Giolito entered free agency with decent value due to his ability to eat innings and his previous reputation as one of the best prospects in baseball. Notably, he has consistently thrown at least 160 innings per full season since joining the Chicago White Sox rotation in 2018.

The Boston Red Sox, known for their need for starting pitching support, were attracted to Giolito's durability. Throughout the 2021 season, the Red Sox ranked 27th in MLB for starting pitcher innings, totaling 774 1/3. With the addition of Giolito, he will join the rotation alongside pitchers Chris Sale, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta, and Tanner Houck.

Furthermore, Giolito's signing further limits the options for teams in need of starting pitching this offseason. The New York Mets, in particular, were linked to Giolito after failing to secure Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Remaining notable arms in the market include Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Marcus Stroman, and Shota Imanaga.

The Red Sox have taken a decisive step by signing Lucas Giolito, strengthening their pitching staff and signaling their intentions for the upcoming season. Red Sox fans eagerly await the impact Giolito will bring to the team, while the rest of MLB continues to monitor the free agent market for further developments.