Giolito's first season with Boston ended before it began when he suffered an elbow injury in spring training that required surgery. Doctors opted for an internal bracing procedure, which gave Giolito a chance for a normal offseason. He began throwing in August and was in Fort Myers on a throwing program during the offseason. There could be restrictions early on, but Giolito is expected to be at spring training with other pitchers. He received Cy Young votes every season from 2019 to 2021, but his career arc took a hit in 2023 when he gave up 41 home runs with a 41.9 percent hard-hit rate. He said the troubles were due to falling behind batters and missing location in the zone. Thought of as a front-end starter after signing with Boston, it's a good bet that the organization isn't counting on a top-of-the-rotation starter in 2025, but the 30-year-old should have a spot at the back end. Read Past Outlooks