Red Sox
Lucas Giolito has been vocal about recruiting Max Fried to Boston this offseason.
A current Red Sox pitcher was in attendance for Game 1 of the 2024 World Series in Los Angeles on Friday night, and he wasn’t alone.
Lucas Giolito, who didn’t play for Boston in 2024 after suffering an injury during spring training, was in the stands with his high school teammate Max Fried, cheering on fellow Harvard-Westlake product Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers’ starting pitcher.
Giolito has been vocal about his attempts to lure Fried to the Red Sox this offseason, and Fried fits well with one of Boston’s top priorities heading into 2025: top-end rotation help.
Giolito and Fried posed for a picture posted on MLB social media to support the high school teammates.
Fried is an eight-year MLB veteran who’s spent his entire career to date with the Atlanta Braves. He owns a career ERA of 3.07 and posted a 3.25 ERA in 29 starts last season.
Giolito in his own right projects towards the middle of Boston’s rotation as it’s currently assembled. His last two seasons were rocky and filled with instability, but Giolito is surely hoping to get back to his 2021 form; he commanded a 3.53 ERA and reached 31 starts that season.
Giolito was one of Boston’s only additions to pitching in free agency last offseason. Missing the entire year wasn’t what Craig Breslow or Giolito had in mind when the sides agreed to a two-year deal, but it still seems that Giolito is excited to contribute to the Red Sox once he can return to the mound in 2025.
If he can aid Boston in landing a top free-agent pitcher like Fried, Giolito will put himself on the fast track to fan favorite in the rotation.
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