Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito aims for his debut after recovering from an injury that sidelined him throughout last season. Signed for two years at $38.5 million, he faced pressures during his contract year, but during a recent podcast appearance, he expressed that his focus is on team dynamics and the playoffs, rather than his impending free agency. Giolito has acknowledged the past impacts of contract pressures on his performance and aims to channel his energy positively this season.
"I've learned lessons from that. I could give a (expletive) about my contract year this year. At this point, looking around the room and looking around the clubhouse, seeing the talent, seeing how well we're meshing together, I'm thinking playoffs and beyond. That's the focus."
"My first contract year, it was definitely on my mind. I started the year with the White Sox, traded at the deadline, the Angels for a month. Put on waivers, Cleveland for a month and especially in the later half of the year, that was on my mind. And I think it was having negative effects on my overall psyche when it came to pitching and baseball."
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