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Breaking: Red sox slugger officially back.
For Red Sox fans still clinging onto any hope of a reunion with slugger Adam Duvall, they can kiss those hopes goodbye.
On Thursday, the Atlanta Braves announced that they had signed Duvall to a one-year, $3 million deal. It will be Duvall’s third stint with the Braves, he suited up for Atlanta from 2018-20 and 2021-22. The outfielder was a member of the Braves’ 2021 World Series championship team.
Last month, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had reported that the Red Sox remained “in the market” for Duvall, along with several other veteran outfielders. Duvall’s situation was quite similar to Justin Turner’s, who ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Both were veterans who were in Boston on a one-year deal in 2023, both provided production with the Red Sox, both hadn’t received a lot of interest from other clubs in free agency, and both appeared open to returning to Boston. The Red Sox will have neither on their 2024 roster.
In 92 games with the Red Sox last season, Duvall socked 21 home runs and drove in 58 RBI while hitting .247. Duvall was Boston’s Opening Day center fielder and got off to a blazing start in which he hit three home runs and drove in 12 runs over his first seven games. On April 9, he broke his wrist while attempting to make a catch and wouldn’t return until June 9.
With last season’s emergence of Jarren Duran in center, an offseason trade for Tyler O’Neill, and the organization’s hopes that prospects Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu can take the next steps, the Boston outfield didn’t appear to leave much room for Duvall.
Related update:
Lucas Giolito Injury Update Confirms the Worst
The Boston Red Sox’ premier offseason free agent signing will not throw a pitch in 2024. Starter Lucas Giolito signed a one-year, $19 million contract with the Red Sox this offseason, the only true example of Boston’s front office spending to bring in outside talent. Last Tuesday, manager Alex Cora relayed that Giolito felt discomfort in his right elbow after a throwing session at the team’s spring training complex. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Giolito had suffered a partially torn UCL and a flexor strain.
Giolito was scheduled to receive a second opinion on Monday before a final decision was made. Sean McAdam confirmed that Giolito would undergo surgery on Tuesday afternoon, while acknowledging that the extent of the damage was not immediately known.
Only a short time later, Bob Nightengale of USA Today confirmed that the surgery would end Giolito’s season, even though it barely had a chance to even get off the ground.
Giolito’s contract includes a player option for 2025. With the recent events that have unfolded and his 2024 campaign now reportedly shelved, it appears far more likely that he will likely exercise that option for next season.
Any ridicule of Boston’s front office for the signing is irrational. Since 2018, Giolito has thrown the eighth-most innings in all of baseball and been an absolute workhorse. It is truly just an unfortunate break for the Red Sox and for Giolito as well, as he looks to bounce back from two down seasons.
With Giolito out for the season, the Red Sox will be paying Chris Sale and Giolito a total of around $35 million to not throw a pitch in Boston this season.
With so much pitching dysfunction, you’re not going to find many Red Sox fans surprised to see the team sitting as heavy underdogs (+320 on FanDuel Sportsbook) to make the postseason in 2024.
