Alex Cora Gets Candid About Lucas Giolito’s Influence on Red Sox Pitching Revival

The 2025 season brought a breath of fresh air to the Boston Red Sox, a franchise hungry to break free from years of inconsistency and early exits. For the first time since 2021, the club returned to postseason baseball, signaling a renewed sense of direction under manager Alex Cora. Though their journey ended with an AL Wild Card loss to the New York Yankees, the campaign was filled with important developments — none more significant than the resurgence of veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito.

As the Red Sox ramp up preparations for the 2026 campaign, Giolito’s free agency remains among the league’s most intriguing unresolved storylines. On Friday, Cora spoke openly about the pitcher’s impact during an interview with beat reporter Christopher Smith, offering a refreshingly honest assessment of just how pivotal Giolito was to Boston’s turnaround.

“He was great,” Cora said. “He did a good job. Just too bad at the end that he was banged up. A guy that we relied on.” After a season of steady reliability, the praise comes as no surprise.

Giolito’s 2025 performance served as one of the Red Sox’s foundational pillars. The right-hander finished 10–4 with a 3.41 ERA across 26 starts, stabilizing a rotation that had previously lacked top-end consistency and veteran poise. His WHIP, strikeout rate, and efficiency in high-leverage moments all reflected the form that once made him one of the premier arms in the American League.

Boston’s improvement — from erratic outings to dependable pitching structure — was no coincidence.

Even more impressive was how Giolito anchored the staff early in the season, buying time for younger pitchers to find rhythm and allowing midseason acquisitions to settle into their roles. His presence became especially valuable during stretches when the bullpen was taxed, providing quality innings that preserved arms for late-game situations.

When postseason competition arrived, Giolito’s attitude and preparation set the tone for Boston’s return to meaningful October baseball.

However, injuries derailed his late-season momentum, something Cora acknowledged with a hint of disappointment. The Red Sox had leaned heavily on Giolito, especially while navigating injuries and rotational uncertainty. His final few weeks of the campaign became a reminder of how thin the margin can be for teams with championship hopes.

Even so, Cora’s reflective tone made it clear: Giolito was not merely a contributor — he was a core engine of Boston’s resurgence.

Despite the value he brought in 2025, Giolito remains unsigned as the 2026 season approaches. Cora himself admitted he does not understand why the market has been so slow to materialize for a pitcher of Giolito’s caliber. “I don’t know why the other 29 teams haven’t signed him,” he said, echoing the confusion felt by many observers around the league.

Yet the reality is that Boston’s current rotation puzzle leaves little room for a reunion.

The Red Sox spent the offseason aggressively reinforcing their pitching staff. Their ace, Garrett Crochet, remains the centerpiece of the rotation. They were also busy acquiring two strong right-handed arms via trade: Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo.

Both additions bring durability and playoff experience, forming a trio capable of competing with the best rotations in the American League.

The front office didn’t stop there. In one of the offseason’s most notable signings, free agent left-hander Ranger Suárez secured a six-year, $155 million deal — a significant investment reflecting Boston’s commitment to strengthening its pitching identity. His postseason pedigree from Philadelphia only adds to the mix.

Together, these moves solidified the top of Boston’s rotation and left little practical space or budget for another high-level veteran.

Don’t forget the homegrown core. Boston will also return Brayan Bello, who continues to evolve into one of the league’s more intriguing young starters. Alongside him are promising rookies Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, two arms the organization believes can make meaningful contributions in 2026.

For Cora and the coaching staff, developing these pitchers takes priority — especially as Boston seeks sustainable long-term success.

With all that depth, bringing Giolito back becomes more complicated. His asking price, understandably shaped by his strong 2025 performance, likely exceeds Boston’s current spending plans. Cora admitted as much, expressing appreciation for the pitcher but acknowledging that roster dynamics simply don’t allow for his return.

It’s not a matter of desire — it’s a matter of structural fit.

Still, Giolito’s value on the open market remains significant. Teams across MLB searching for a stabilizing veteran presence — including playoff hopefuls like the Dodgers, Cardinals, Mariners, and Giants — could view him as an immediate upgrade. Front offices are well aware that pitchers capable of producing sub-3.50 ERAs while logging 26 starts rarely remain available deep into February.

The question now becomes which team decides to act first.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox continue their preparations for the 2026 season with elevated expectations. Their 2025 Wild Card exit, while disappointing, illuminated critical areas of improvement and highlighted the importance of pitching depth — something Boston struggled to maintain in previous years. With an upgraded rotation, the Red Sox believe they now possess the kind of staff capable of carrying them farther into October.

Cora’s leadership and strategic approach remain essential to that mission.

The 2026 team is built differently from the squads that struggled through inconsistency earlier in the decade. Pitching is now a strength rather than a liability. Offensively, Boston retains a mix of veterans and ascending stars capable of providing consistent run support. Defensively, improvements across the infield and outfield should reduce the taxing innings that hampered their pitchers in recent seasons.

Boston’s blueprint emphasizes balance — an ingredient championship teams often rely on.

As spring training unfolds, all eyes will remain on how the rotation shapes up behind Crochet and Gray. The competition among Bello, Oviedo, Suárez, and the rookies will be one of Boston’s most intriguing early-season storylines. With this depth, Cora has more flexibility in managing workloads, navigating matchups, and avoiding the burnout that derailed previous campaigns.

Such stability gives Boston a legitimate path toward a deeper postseason run.

Giolito, meanwhile, waits for the right opportunity. His professionalism, poise, and proven production ensure that a team seeking a boost will eventually call. Whether it happens before Opening Day or early into the season, his ability to elevate a rotation remains undeniable.

Though his Red Sox chapter appears likely to close, the impact he made — particularly during the team’s 2025 resurgence — will not be forgotten by Cora or Boston fans.

As the Red Sox chase their most ambitious goals since their 2018 championship run, the contributions of players like Giolito serve as reminders that successful seasons are often built through moments of stability, leadership, and resilience. For now, Boston moves forward with a fortified rotation and playoff aspirations — and Giolito continues his search for a new home, carrying the respect of a manager and organization that valued him deeply.