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Red Sox Projected to Trade $38.5 Million All-Star Pitcher After Kristian Campbell News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 4:22 PM ET

Any games featuring Boston Red Sox teammates Kristian Campbell and Lucas Giolito, at least in the short term, will feature Campbell at second base and Giolito on the mound.

Whether or not that partnership will continue past the trade deadline, though, remains to be seen. Although Campbell's future in Boston is safe given his top prospect status, Giolito is a pending free agent on a team potentially destined for a fourth losing season in six years.

Could, and would, the 29-33 Red Sox wave the white flag and fully pivot to a Campbell-led future? If so, Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer won't be surprised to see Boston trade Giolito ahead of the July 31 deadline.

Giolito, who turns 31 next month, owns a 4.78 ERA and 26-10 K-BB ratio over 32 innings. He's a long way removed from the young pitcher who earned All-Star honors with the Chicago White Sox in 2019, and it's been four years since his last above-average season.

"He's at least an innings-eater," Rymer argued, "and it probably wouldn't be hard to get Boston to eat some of his $19 million salary."

Indeed, Giolito is in the final year of a two-year, $38.5 million contract. The Red Sox (or whoever holds his rights come the offseason) also have a $14 million club option if he throws fewer than 140 innings.

However, that becomes a $19 million mutual option if he hits that innings mark. Giolito signed that contract before missing all of last year with right elbow surgery.

Lucas Giolito, Painted 83mph Changeup. ️ pic.twitter.com/bIeBE2wKDS
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2025

The inconsistent Red Sox are already making significant moves, announcing Monday that Campbell won't receive reps at first base after all. Instead, manager Alex Cora made it clear they're keeping Campbell at second.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow notably backed Cora over the weekend amid repeated calls for a managerial change.

Time is running out for Campbell, Giolito, and the Red Sox to right the ship. Boston enters Tuesday trailing by nine games in the AL East, and the Red Sox are 4.5 games out of the AL's third and final Wild Card spot.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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