Lucas Giolito Injury: Declines mutual option

Giolito (elbow) declined his portion of a $19 mutual option for the 2026 season Monday, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.

He'll be paid a $1.5 million buyout instead. The Red Sox could still extend Giolito a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer, and if that happens, there's a non-zero chance the right-hander accepts it. After missing the 2024 season following internal brace surgery, Giolito had a nice bounce-back 2025 campaign, posting a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 frames. However, his season ended in late September with elbow soreness, and while he was cleared of structural damage, the injury could affect his earnings potential this offseason.