Of all the free agents left on the board approaching the end of February, there's really just one starting pitcher who remains puzzlingly unsigned.
Lucas Giolito, who went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA for the Boston Red Sox in 26 starts last season, had his mutual option declined, then was not tendered a qualifying offer. Once the Red Sox acquired Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, it seemed even more obvious that Giolito wouldn't be back, and signing Ranger Suárez in free agency made the prospect fairly impossible.
On Friday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora was asked for his thoughts on why Giolito doesn't yet have a gig, and he wasn't in the mood for speculation.
"I don't know. That's for the other 29 teams to talk about that," Cora said, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.
Giolito was a key stabilizing force for the Red Sox during their hot streak over the summer, and without him, Boston likely would not have made the playoffs.
Cora appreciated that effort, though he also pointed out what a shame it was that the righty sustained an elbow injury just before the playoffs, forcing Boston to start rookie Connelly Early in an elimination playoff game.
"He was great. He did a good job. Just too bad at the end that he was banged up. A guy that we relied on."
Under the hood, Giolito let up a lot of loud contact that he didn't get punished for, and teams have likely spent the offseason balking at his 4.16 FIP and 5.07 expected ERA.
Still, so many starters get hurt during spring training across the league that it's hard to imagine the one-time All-Star won't land a deal soon.