The World Series has passed and the 2024-25 MLB offseason has begun. Free agency is officially open, but payers will need to wait five days — until Nov. 4 — to sign with another club. Then, all bets are off until the start of the season.
Some impending free agents are eligible for a qualifying offer. Teams have five days to approach players about signing a one-year, $21.05 million deal, the average single-year salary of the league's 125 highest-paid players, to keep them on their 2024 team for another season. A player becomes eligible if they've never accepted a qualifying offer before and by playing with the same major league club for a year.
The Boston Red Sox have two free agents who could be worth the qualifying offer in Tyler O'Neill and Nick Pivetta. The Sox probably won't issue one to Pivetta — he's the longest-tenured pitcher in the system and the front office has been vocal about shopping for rotation help this offseason. Despite this, Bleacher Report has big dreams for the righty.
Zachary D. Rymer featured Pivetta among a list of players he expects will become superstars with new teams. This not only means he thinks Pivetta is likely to sign elsewhere this year, but that he has the skill set to thrive.
Bleacher Report forecasts bright future on a new team for Red Sox's Nick Pivetta
Nick Pivetta's 10Ks. pic.twitter.com/MR3GnS7dRZ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 26, 2024
If the veteran proved anything during his five years in Boston, it's that he's a workhorse. Pivetta logged the most innings of any Red Sox hurler since he was traded to Boston in 2020, and he spent some of that time in the bullpen. Wherever the Sox needed him, Pivetta went with little trouble.
One of Pivetta's biggest flaws is his proclivity toward the long ball. He let up a career-high 28 homers in 2024, good for a rate of 1.7 home runs per nine innings. Maybe that number will decrease when he gets away from playing half his games at Fenway Park, which is notoriously hitter-friendly. Regardless, he isn't an ace.
Even though he gives up an excess of homers, Pivetta's stuff can still be dangerous. He posted a 4.14 ERA with 36 walks and 172 strikeouts over 145.2 innings. That's an 88th percentile strikeout rate an average of 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. His 2023 strikeout rate was slightly better at 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, but he still misses bats efficiently.
If Pivetta signs with a team that plays mostly at a more neutral or pitcher-friendly park, he could have a much better season next year. Bleacher Report linked him to the Tigers, Guardians and Giants, and each of their home parks ranks on the pitcher-friendly side.
Pivetta was flexible and served the Red Sox well over his five seasons with the club. Many Sox fans will be sad to see him go if he isn't made a qualifying offer, but hope he thrives with his next ballclub.