Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito has declined his end of a $19 mutual option and is now a free agent, a source confirmed Monday.

The decision comes as no surprise. Mutual options, which need to be exercised by both sides, are usually mechanisms that allow teams to manipulate CBT (competitive balance tax) numbers and are almost never picked up.

The Red Sox have until Nov. 18 to decide whether to extend the 31-year-old a $22.025 million qualifying offer. Offering it to him would allow Boston to receive draft pick compensation if he signs with another team in free agency this offseason.

Giolito initially signed a two-year, $38.5 million contract in December 2023, but he missed the 2024 season due to an elbow injury. He underwent a season-ending internal bracing procedure on March 13, 2024.

He missed the first 31 games of the 2025 season with a left hamstring strain before returning to pitch pretty well. Giolito went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 4.17 FIP in 26 starts for the Red Sox. He struck out 121 and walked 56 while holding opponents to a .239 batting average in 145 innings. The advanced numbers weren’t great though with him finishing in the 30th percentile or lower in expected ERA, expected batting average, chase percentage, whiff percentage, walk percentage and average exit velocity.

Giolito — who averaged 93.3 mph with his fastball — experienced soreness in his elbow late in September and it prevented him from pitching in the postseason.

Last week, a source with knowledge of Giolito’s situation described him as “100%” and on a regular throwing program. A league source said he is “making improvements” with his throwing timeline set to be guided by his offseason ramp-up.

Giolito’s decision comes on the same day Alex Bregman officially opted out of his contract and hit free agency. Fellow right-hander Liam Hendriks will similarly have his mutual option declined in the coming days. By Thursday, the Red Sox must decide on Giolito’s qualifying offer and also will receive Trevor Story’s opt-out decision.

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