Lucas Giolito agrees to two-year deal with Red Sox (Source)

BOSTON — As soon as Hot Stove season began, new Red Sox president of baseball Craig Breslow set his sights on getting started.

It took some time, but the Sox finally landed a significant addition to the rotation, agreeing to terms with free agent right-hander Lucas Giolito on a two-year, $38.5 million deal on Friday, a source told Mark MLB.com. They will support me. The deal, which has not been confirmed by the club, includes an opt-out after 2024.

In a three-year span from 2019-2021, Giolito was one of the top starters in the American League, going 29-21 with a 3.47 ERA over 72 starts, holding opponents to a .207 average during that span.

Giolito has gone through a slump the past two seasons, but the Red Sox are confident they can reverse that trend in the team's new and improved infrastructure under Breslow, pitching coach Andrew Bailey and pitching director Justin Willard.

The Red Sox were targeting one or two starters this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if they add someone else in addition to Giolito.

Lefties Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are the top two starters remaining on the traditional free agent market. There's also Shota Imanaga, who had a solid career in Japan and was sent to MLB teams in November. Teams have a Jan. 11 deadline to sign the 30-year-old left-hander.

Giolito's 2023 season has been upside down, to say the least. It started out well, as Giolito went 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 21 starts for the White Sox.

But after he was traded to the Angels, his season began to decline dramatically, as he posted a 6.89 ERA in six starts. The Guardians later claimed Giolito off waivers, and he had a 7.04 ERA in six appearances with Cleveland.

That stretch led to Giolito making the wrong kind of history, becoming the first pitcher since 1899 to allow eight or more runs in a game to three different teams, according to OptaSTATS.

Prior to this season, Giolito spent six consecutive seasons with the White Sox, who acquired him from the Nationals in December 2016 as part of the trade for Adam Eaton. His best season came in 2019 when he went 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA in 176 2/3 innings while leading all of baseball in complete games (three) and shutouts (two) en route to a sixth-place finish in Cy Young Award voting.

He finished with a 3.48 and 3.53 ERA in 2020 and '21, respectively, earning some low-ballot Cy Young votes, and he also threw a no-hitter during the '20 season.

At just 29 years old, there should be plenty of fuel left in Giolito's tank, but it's up to him to prove he can return to his dominant persona. His biggest problem in 2023 was difficult contact. He ranks in the 8th percentile in barrel rate and 32nd percentile in strikeout rate, two of the biggest reasons why he leads the American League in home runs allowed (41).

Aside from Giolito, Boston's rotation currently includes fast-rising youngster Brian Bellew and former ace Chris Sale, who has suffered a barrage of injuries in recent years.

Nick Pivetta found himself a swing player last season and may get a chance to return to the rotation.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox are still trying to figure out whether it's better to use Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock and Kutter Crawford as starters or relievers.