John Henry has a less-than-stellar reputation with Boston Red Sox fans in recent years. Ever since Dave Dombrowski left the organization, the Sox have completely changed the amount they have spent on the team.
The complete 180 in how much the front office was allowed to spend resulted in stars like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts leaving the organization, and the team making the playoffs just one time in the six seasons since they won the World Series in 2018, prior to 2025.
Things changed in 2025 when they signed Alex Bregman in free agency and gave mega-extensions to Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony. The problem was that the excitement around those moves was offset by the trade of Rafael Devers due to his differences with the front office and ownership.
While one season won't fix the damage Henry and the ownership group have done, they have the chance to get some goodwill with the fanbase. Lucas Giolito is just five innings shy of reaching a $250,000 contract bonus. Giolito likely won't pitch on the final day of the season, despite being ready, since the Sox have already clinched a playoff spot.
Giolito has been instrumental to the success of the team this season. He's made 26 starts this season to the tune of a 3.41 ERA, striking out 121. From June 10th to September 12th, he made 17 starts with a 2.29 ERA, and the team went 12-5 in those starts. Overall, Boston is 18-8 on days Giolito has started.
Could giving Lucas Giolito his bonus help to ensure his return to Boston in 2026?
Lucas Giolito just hit 140 innings on the season. That means the Red Sox $14M club option turns into a $19M mutual option with a $1.5M buyout.
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) September 17, 2025
Aka, Lucas Giolito will now be a free agent after the season. pic.twitter.com/ZCbdXFyi0q
Giolito's contract was a topic of conversation through a chunk of the season as well. At 140 innings pitched this season, the righty's third-year team option vested into a $19 million mutual option. Mutual options are rarely picked up in MLB, and it's more than likely that either he or the Red Sox will not pick up his option, allowing him to hit free agency. The 31-year-old has already said he would return to Boston next season, but being generous and giving him his contract bonus can only help aid a possible return.
Some teams will give players contact bonuses they haven't officially earned, but the team thinks they either should have or did enough to earn. Look at the Phillies this season with Cristopher Sanchez. He had a 50,000 contract bonus for making the all-star team, but while he didn't make it, the organization believed he should have and gave him the bonus anyway. On the other side, some teams will make sure a player can't reach a bonus, like the Pirates cutting Rowdy Tellez in 2024, four plate appearances shy of a $200,000 bonus with just six games left in the season.
Giving a player a bonus that they haven't contractually earned, but have done in spirit, can make a fanbase rally around the franchise. Red Sox Nation has loved what Giolito has done this season, and giving him that bonus could help Henry buy back some goodwill that he lost with the fanbase since 2019.