“It Was a Freak Thing”: Giolito Declares He’s “Fully Healthy,” Opens Up on “Gut-Wrenching” End to Red Sox Season.vc
In a raw interview, the free-agent pitcher says his elbow felt “100 percent fine” just days after the “worst possible timing” forced him to miss the playoffs, and makes it clear his heart is still in Boston.
In a raw and revealing interview, Lucas Giolito has opened up about the “devastating twist” that marred his 2025 comeback season with the Boston Red Sox, declaring himself “fully healthy” and eager to silence doubters as he hits free agency.
After missing the entire 2024 campaign due to UCL surgery, the veteran right-hander delivered a stellar return, posting a 3.41 ERA over 145 innings and anchoring Boston’s rotation. But just as the Red Sox geared up for their AL Wild Card clash with the Yankees, disaster struck: right flexor irritation and a bone issue sidelined Giolito, forcing him to watch helplessly from the dugout as his team was eliminated by their rivals in a hard-fought, three-game series
Speaking candidly on WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford’s Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, Giolito described the gut-wrenching frustration of the injury’s timing.
“Within three days, my elbow felt 100 percent fine again,” he revealed, noting that scans showed no UCL damage and the inflammation vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. He was already ramping up a throwing program to return later in the playoffs—but Boston’s early exit dashed those hopes.
“It was a weird, freak thing that popped up at the worst possible time,” Giolito lamented. “Not only for the Red Sox but for myself… It makes my free agency harder. It prevented me from pitching in the playoffs… It was just a very, very tough one to swallow. I still don’t like thinking about it.”
“Fully Healthy” and No Qualifying Offer
Now stepping into the offseason, Giolito is adamant that the setback is ancient history. “There’s no injury, or whatever injury there was is gone,” he asserted, emphasizing his readiness to “prove that I’m fully healthy in any way possible” to wary teams.
The late-season scare left a “bad taste” and is the likely reason Boston declined to extend him the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer. Giolito, who also declined his end of a $19 million mutual option to test the market, said he didn’t expect the offer amid the uncertainty.
“You end the year hurt, it puts a bad taste in the team’s mouth,” he acknowledged. “It is what it is. Now, the fortunate side is that it was… the most benign, weird, freak injury that went away after a few days. So, now I’m… having a fully healthy, amazing offseason.”
“I Would Love to Come Back”
Despite the business side, Giolito’s heart remains in Boston. His 2025 season marked the team’s return to the postseason, and he made his desire for a reunion unmistakably clear.
“I made it clear to everybody. I would love to come back here and continue to play for the Red Sox,” he said passionately. “It’s the most fun I have ever had having a season with a team in the big leagues… I felt like the way it ended left such a bad taste in my mouth… It really sucked. I was like, I really hope I can come back, and it goes better for us next time.”
MLB Trade Rumors slotted Giolito at No. 27 on their top 50 free agents list, forecasting a two-year, $32 million deal. His mid-tier price tag, combined with no draft-pick compensation, could draw interest from contenders nationwide. But for Giolito, a heartfelt homecoming to fortify Boston’s rotation feels like the natural fit.
