NL West team signs Red Sox free agent pitcher Nick Pivetta; Boston will receive a compensatory pick
The Red Sox gambled this offseason offering the $21.05 million qualifying offer to right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta. The gamble ultimately paid off as he is signing with the San Diego Padres.
Pivetta will get a four-year, $55 million deal with the Padres, that will include an opt-out after the second and third year, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He will earn $4 million this season, $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027 and $18 million in 2028, Passan added.
His 2025 salary will effectively be $1 million with a $3 million signing bonus. Due to signing Pivetta, the Red Sox will earn a draft pick around pick No. 77. The Padres will forfeit their second-highest pick (No. 64 overall) and also forfeit $500,000 in international bonus pool money.
Pivetta’s $13.75 million annual average value falls short of the value of the qualifying offer. If he were to opt out after the second season, he would have effectively earned $23 million with the Padres. The Red Sox are now expected to have four of the top 90 picks in this year’s amateur draft, starting with the 15th overall pick in the first round.
The move officially ends Pivetta’s time with the Red Sox, where he made 107 starts over the last five seasons.
Pivetta, who turns 32 next month, said after his final Red Sox start this season he would be open to coming back to Boston. At that time, the Sox hadn’t added Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and Patrick Sandoval in free agency. The Canadian-born righty finished the 2024 campaign with a 4.14 ERA in 145 1/3 innings.
There had been some speculation that Pivetta could return to the Red Sox but not as a starter. According to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, she envisioned a scenario where Pivetta could come back to Boston and pitch as a reliever.
“I can’t see Pivetta signing on a short-term deal as a reliever coming off his best year as a starter,” McCaffrey wrote. “Both he and the Red Sox expressed interest in a reunion, and maybe he gets desperate, but I just can’t see him making that move. I think it’s more likely he waits things out; some team will inevitably have an injury in spring training or early in the season, and then he’ll sign there. While he was good for part of the season in the bullpen in 2023, I’m not sure he’d be the closer with Aroldis Chapman and Liam Hendriks the likelier options in the mix.”
Boston initially acquired Pivetta along with Connor Seabold, who just signed a minor league deal with the Rays, from the Phillies for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree during the COVID-shortened season.
Following his final start in a Red Sox uniform last season, Pivetta expressed interest in returning to Boston. Ultimately, Boston made other upgrades to their rotation and moved on from the veteran starter.
“It’s my last start so far for me being a Red Sox,” Pivetta said. “It has been a hefty four years, almost five years for me. There’s a lot to be grateful for. A lot of opportunities have been given. Tried to take advantage of every single one of them.
“A lot of memories. A lot to be grateful for.”
It’s clear the qualifying offer crippled Pivetta’s market due to the compensatory draft pick attached. Ultimately, he lands a four year pact, which might only be two years depending on how he pitches in the 2026 season.
Pivetta may have an opportunity to face his old team as the Red Sox play the Padres in San Diego this coming season from Aug. 8-10.
That's AWESOME! I'm happy for the Padres & the Red Sox. I'm also glad Pivetta gets to get his butt to spring training only having missed a couple of throwing sessions. Unlike Jordan Montgomery, who tried to wait it out last year & never recovered.