The San Diego Padres declined right-handed starter Nick Pivetta's $14 million club option, and he will now be a free agent this offseason. Pivetta was limited to just eight starts last season due to a right elbow flexor strain. As a result of spending nearly five months on the injured list, Pivetta's player option turned into a club option, which San Diego ultimately declined. Had the Padres picked up Pivetta's team option, he would've had a player option for $18 million in 2028.
The Pivetta decision comes as a bit of a surprise for San Diego given that they're in need of multiple starting pitchers this winter. Trade deadline acquisitions Robbie Ray and Casey Mize will also be free agents, so the Padres have some work to do in their rotation.
When healthy, Pivetta has proven to be a capable starter in major league baseball. In 2025, Pivetta went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 146 ERA+, 0.99 WHIP, 3.49 FIP, 190 strikeouts and a 5.0 bWAR in 31 starts (181.2 innings) in what was a breakout campaign for the Padres. He finished sixth in the NL Cy Young race.
Pivetta was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the 2020 season and proceeded to spend the next four seasons with them. In Boston, 107 of Pivetta's 131 appearances were starts. In total, the righty produced a 4.29 ERA and 9.4 bWAR from 2020-24 with the Red Sox.
Red Sox could pursue a reunion with Nick Pivetta after Padres decline club option
The Red Sox currently have a starting rotation that features all lefties in: Garret Crochet, Payton Tolle, Ranger Suarez and Jake Bennett. Boston declined its end of Sonny Gray's mutual option, and now are in need of a right-handed starter.
Boston could bring back Gray, who had a superb season for them in 2026. Gray, who turns 37 on November 7, went 18-5 with a 2.72 ERA and 4.3 bWAR in 29 starts. However, a reunion with Pivetta makes sense if Gray departs for another team. If Pivetta is healthy and can post a season like he did in 2025, it would be a major boost for Boston's rotation.
The Padres' surprising decision to decline Pivetta's team option now gives the Red Sox another righty starter possibility this offseason. Re-signing Gray would be the logical choice, but Pivetta could be a cheaper option and has high upside. There is also familiarity there since Pivetta spent close to five seasons with the Red Sox.
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