Lucas Giolito’s time in Boston might’ve ended quietly, but his 2025 season was anything but forgettable. After declining his mutual option with the Red Sox back in early November, the 31-year-old right-hander officially closed the book on his brief, injury-marred stint in Boston. Still, despite the bumps along the way, Giolito managed to piece together a campaign he can hang his hat on-and now, he’s a free agent with more than a few teams kicking the tires.
One of those teams? The New York Yankees.
According to reports, the Bronx Bombers have expressed interest in Giolito, and while nothing is imminent, it's a sign that the market sees value in the veteran righty. And they’re not alone.
On Tuesday, analyst Zachary D. Rymer pointed to the San Francisco Giants as the “best fit” for Giolito.
It’s a pairing that makes a lot of baseball sense-and, for Red Sox fans, the idea of Giolito potentially reuniting with Rafael Devers in the Bay Area adds a bit of ironic flair.
Let’s break down why San Francisco could be the ideal landing spot.
Giolito’s 2025 season was a bounce-back in many respects. He made 26 starts for the Red Sox, finishing with a 10-4 record, a 3.41 ERA, and a 1.29 WHIP over 145 innings.
He struck out 121 batters along the way-not dominant, but steady. And for a pitcher who’s battled inconsistency and injuries in recent years, that kind of stability matters.
But dig a little deeper, and the numbers suggest some underlying concerns. His expected ERA sat at 5.00, and Statcast data indicates he was giving up more hard contact than you'd like to see.
His ground-ball rate was 39.5%, and opponents averaged 90.3 mph in exit velocity against him-both below league average. Translation: Giolito was giving up a lot of loud fly balls.
That’s where Oracle Park comes into play.
San Francisco’s home stadium is notoriously pitcher-friendly, especially for fly-ball pitchers. According to Statcast, only PNC Park in Pittsburgh suppresses home runs more effectively.
For a guy like Giolito, who doesn’t rely on elite strikeout stuff and tends to give up air contact, that’s a significant advantage. The ball doesn’t carry as well in San Francisco, and that could help turn some of those warning-track scares into routine outs.
The Giants, for their part, are in the market for a dependable middle-of-the-rotation arm. With Logan Webb and Robbie Ray anchoring the top two spots, Giolito could slide in as a solid No. 3-someone who can eat innings, keep games competitive, and give the bullpen a breather every fifth day.
He’s not the ace he once looked like during his peak with the White Sox, but he doesn’t need to be. What San Francisco needs is experience, durability, and someone who knows how to navigate a lineup without overpowering it.
Giolito checks those boxes.
Over the course of his career, which began with the Nationals back in 2016, Giolito has logged 206 big-league appearances across five teams. He owns a 71-66 record with a 4.30 ERA and nearly 1,200 strikeouts in just over 1,150 innings.
His best years came in Chicago, where he earned All-Star nods in 2019 and 2021 and tossed a no-hitter in 2020. That version of Giolito may not be walking through the door, but the veteran still has enough left in the tank to contribute meaningfully to a contender.
Whether it’s the Yankees, Giants, or another team altogether, Giolito’s next stop will be one to watch. He’s not the flashiest name on the market, but for a team looking to solidify its rotation without breaking the bank, he could be a smart, strategic addition. And if he lands in the right environment-say, a ballpark that forgives the occasional fly ball-he might just remind people what made him an All-Star not too long ago.