3 options to bolster the Reds rotation after Lucas Giolito agrees to join the Red Sox

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The Cincinnati Reds were rumored to be interested in signing former Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito this offseason. Giolito, who pitched for three different teams in 2023, has reportedly agreed to contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Think what you will about Giolito, but the right-hander is a durable starter. After seeing the Reds use 14 different starting pitchers in 2023, Cincinnati definitely could have benefited from Giolito's availability and consistency.

But with the former All-Star off the board, the Reds will need to turn their attention elsewhere if they're looking to upgrade the starting rotation. What three options still exist with Giolito now off to Beantown?

1. Reds can look in-house after missing out on Lucas Giolito

This seems to be a rather unpopular idea among the majority of the Cincinnati faithful, and yet it's quite possible. While an overwhelming majority of Reds fans want to see their favorite team add another starting pitcher, Nick Krall may feel really good about what he has already.

The Cincinnati Reds already Nick Martinez this offseason, and the club has six viable pitchers who could open the 2024 season in the starting rotation. While no one in the Reds rotation eclipsed 150 innings at the major league level last season, Cincinnati's front office is hoping that is an anomaly.

Nick Lodolo started just seven games and was sidelined for the majority of his sophomore season. Both Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft spent time on the 60-day IL in 2023. Vladimir Gutierrez was expected to give the Reds some innings last season, but never came off the injured list.

The Reds were forced to rely on rookies like Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson to pitch well outside their comfort zone, and even young pitchers like Carson Spiers, Lyon Richardson, and Connor Phillips were given an opportunity in 2023.

On the plus-side, all those young pitchers, with the exception of Gutierrez, are still part of the Cincinnati Reds organization. While it's a bit of gamble to go into next season without a proven veteran, Nick Krall could decide to roll the dice and give his young hurlers a chance to succeed.

2. Reds can trade for a starter after missing out on Lucas Giolito

The trade market, outside of Tyler Glasnow, has been rather quiet. Shane Bieber has been linked to the Cincinnati Reds already this offseason, and Dylan Cease is a possibility as well. However, the price tag to acquire a frontline starter is quite astronomical at the moment.

The Los Angeles Dodgers gave up quite a bit in order to trade for Glasnow. The Tampa Bay Rays were also able to offload Manuel Margot's $10-million contract in the process. LA then inked the right-hander to a massive contract extension despite the fact that Glasnow has never thrown over 120 innings in a season.

Bieber comes with some injury concerns. The former Cy Young Award-winner, who'll be a free agent after next season, was placed on the injured list for over two months last season with elbow inflammation. That's never a good sign, and could be a giant red flag.

Cease's price tag is said to be exorbitant at the moment. Will that come down as the offseason continues to unfold? Perhaps. Both the Reds and the Baltimore Orioles represent the most likely landing spots for the Chicago White Sox pitcher due to the depth in their respective farm systems.

There are other pitchers on the trade market as well. Fans assume that one of the Seattle Mariners' young pitchers could be had for the right price, but there haven't been any rumors tying Cincinnati to the M's just yet.

The Reds do have a ton of talented young players down on the farm, but it may be a bit too soon for Nick Krall and Co. to give up on prospects like Edwin Arroyo, Chase Petty, and Cam Collier; all of whom could be involved in a blockbuster trade for a starting pitcher this offseason.

3. Reds can attack the free agent market after missing out on Lucas Giolito

The Cincinnati Reds have shown that they're unafraid to sign a player from the free agent pool. The Reds have already inked Jeimer Candelario, Nick Martinez, and Emilio Pagán this offseason, and have been mentioned to be targeting other free agents as well.

Lucas Giolito was among the names linked to Cincinnati earlier this offseason. However, after seeing the contract that the right-hander signed with the Boston Red Sox, it would appear the Giolito's asking price was much higher than what the Reds were willing to spend.

The free agent pool is dwindling, and the prices keep going up. The Cincinnati Reds are not the only team looking for starting pitching either. In fact, almost the entire league is looking to upgrade their rotation this offseason.

Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are still available, but those two southpaws will be out of the Reds' price range. After watching Lucas Giolito secure almost $40 million, Marcus Stroman's asking price is sure to go beyond what Cincinnati is willing to spend as well.

If the Reds re-enter the free agent market, they'll probably be looking for a mid-tier starting pitcher. Michael Lorenzen and Sean Manaea would both fit that bill, and Frankie Montas could be an interesting option as well.

There's still plenty of time left in the offseason if the Cincinnati Reds are looking to add another starting pitcher. But Nick Krall and Reds' front office better act fast, because the floodgates are about to open.

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