The Boston Red Sox entered Wednesday's contest against the Los Angeles Angels looking to avoid being swept after opening the series with back-to-back losses. Even though victory seemed like a long shot at times, the Red Sox never gave up in front of Fenway Park faithful, fighting back to pick up an 11-9 walk-off win over the Angels.
The Red Sox desperately needed that win to help spark a turnaround; however, the club's latest victory almost didn't happen due to another abysmal pitching performance. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if one veteran hurler's latest appearance was his last in a Boston jersey.
Red Sox Must Send Lucas Giolito Packing After Latest Disaster
Veteran right-handed starter Lucas Giolito has been inconsistent throughout the 2025 campaign, and his latest outing may have been his worst to date. The 30-year-old hurler was chased from the game after allowing seven earned runs on eight hits while throwing 43 pitches (including 22 strikes) in only 1 2/3 innings of work.
Considering how the Red Sox outscored the Angels 6-2 after his exit, it's easy to see why the comeback effort wouldn't have been possible had Giolito stayed in the game.
Following his most recent nightmare start, Giolito is now 1-1 with a 6.42 ERA and 1.630 WHIP in his first seven starts with Boston. Although he's looked like the All-Star version of himself at times, the fact that he's now surrendered six-plus earned runs in three of his last six outings can't be ignored any longer.
His performance hasn't been worth the $19 million he's making this season, and it makes his upcoming $14 million club option look even less attractive.
Although the saying is to never say never in sports, it's hard to imagine Giolito turning things around soon based on his unpredictable performances. If manager Alex Cora has had enough and his staff doesn't believe in a turnaround, the Red Sox could consider cutting ties with Giolito. He's unlikely to draw much interest based on his 2025 numbers, meaning it might be best for Boston to designate him for assignment.
At the end of the day, the Red Sox need players who can consistently contribute to building a winning brand of baseball. That just isn't who Giolito is at this stage of his career, as he continues to do more harm than good with each trip to the mound.
If the Red Sox are serious about making a play for the 2025 MLB playoffs, it's time to cut ties with Giolito before it's too late.