The New York Yankees are predicted to sign a starting pitcher away from their arch-rival Boston Red Sox.
New York has a need in the rotation with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon both set to miss the beginning of the season. Although the Yankees‘ rotation is led by Max Fried, New York will look to sign a No. 4 or No. 5 starter for depth.
MLB insider Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicts the Yankees will sign Lucas Giolito to a two-year, $43 million deal with a $20 million club option for 2028.
“Lucas Giolito did not receive a qualifying offer from the Red Sox, which should help to improve his murky free-agent stock,” Kelly wrote. “On one hand, he was tremendous for the Red Sox this season, posting a 3.41 ERA across 145 innings after an internal brace procedure on his right elbow forced him to miss the entirety of the 2024 season. On the other hand, Giolito does have a major surgery in the not-so-distant past and a right elbow injury forced him to miss the ALWCS. …
“The Yankees—who have an ace in Max Fried, and hope Gerrit Cole will resemble one when he returns from Tommy John surgery—are looking more for a middle of the rotation arm. Jon Heyman of The New York Post has said the Yankees are fond of Giolito, so switching sides of the AL East rivalry might prove to be his best path this offseason.”
Giolito went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts last season with the Red Sox. The right-hander leaving Boston for the Yankees would only add to their rivalry in 2026.
Giolito Claims He’s Fully Healthy
Gioltio ended the season injured as he was unable to pitch in the playoffs.
However, after suffering the elbow injury, Giolito began rehabbing. He has since appeared on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast with Rob Bradford and claimed he’s healthy.
“Within three days, my elbow felt 100% fine again. ..,” Giolito said. “There’s no injury. Whatever injury there was, it’s gone. It was like a weird freak thing that just popped up at the worst possible time.”
Giolito, meanwhile, wasn’t surprised that the Red Sox didn’t offer him a qualifying offer due to the injury.
“I wasn’t banking on it,” Giolito said. “I was pretty sure I wasn’t gonna get it. Because I ended the year injured. That’s how it works. You end the year hurt; you’re not in a good spot to command a qualifying offer or whatever. So moving on.
“I thought it was obvious. I went into this offseason knowing full well I’d be a free agent. You end the year hurt; it puts a bad taste in the team’s mouth. It is what it is. The fortunate part was that it was like the most benign, weird freak injury that went away after a few days.”
Giolito was an All-Star in 2019.
Yankees Roster Moves Could Take Some Time
New York was eliminated in the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Entering the offseason, the Yankees have plenty of questions surrounding their roster. New York is hopeful to re-sign some key players as well as add other players, which GM Brian Cashman said will take time.
I’m staying connected via phone with other clubs and agents,” Cashman said via Zoom at the GM Meetings. “You gather as much early information (as possible), but it seems like what usually plays out is, it’s going to take some time. Once we start heading to the Winter Meetings in Orlando, hopefully we’ll have a pretty clear definition of what’s going on.”
The Yankees are looking to win their first World Series since 2009.
