Red Sox avoiding arbitration with Nick Pivetta quiets trade rumors and sends message

Nick Pivetta and the Red Sox have avoided arbitration.

Boston and Pivetta have agreed on a $7.5 million salary for the 2024 campaign, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Before the agreement, he was slated to make $5.35 million this coming season and MLB Trade Rumors speculated that he and the Sox would agree at $6.9 million.

Pivetta is one of Boston's better starting pitching options on the roster now, although he had better success coming out of the bullpen in 2023, even going as far as setting a franchise record for the most strikeouts recorded in a relief appearance.

Pivetta's salary hike reflects his second-half performance from last season. After stalling when making starts in the first half, Pivetta's bullpen performances saved his year and he logged some impressive numbers. He made 38 appearances (142.2 innings) and logged a 4.04 ERA, a career-low.

The Red Sox avoid an arbitration hearing with Nick Pivetta

Pivetta racked up 183 strikeouts and K rate of 11.5 per nine innings. He earned his salary increase, and possibly another shot at a starting job. This should quiet any trade rumors involving Pivetta, which once upon a time were speculated upon at length because of his move out of the starting rotation as well as the Sox's desire to shed salary and reconfigure their roster heading into 2024. Clearly, but giving him a few extra bucks, it would seem they want Pivetta to remain part of their picture.

The Red Sox also avoided arbitration with catcher Reese McGuire, relief pitcher John Schreiber, and brand-new outfielder Tyler O'Neill.

McGuire, the Sox's backup catcher last year, settled for $1.5 million, up from $1.25 million in 2023. McGuire made 72 appearances last season and batted .267.

Schreiber and the Sox agreed to a $1.175 million for the upcoming season, up from $750,000 last year. Schreiber made 46 appearances in 2023, logging 46.2 innings, 41 hits, 20 earned runs, six homers, 25 walks and 53 strikeouts.

O'Neill will likely spend the majority of his time in right field to take the place of Alex Verdugo. He and Boston settled at $5.85 million for 2024.

The Red Sox will not need any arbitration hearings going into the 2024 season — all of the players who filed for arbitration settled on the afternoon of Jan. 11. Now, Boston can return to the free agent pool without having to worry about the salaries of any of its existing players.

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