Nick Pivetta, the former Boston Red Sox pitching coach has signed a contract with the San Diego Padres to strengthen their rotation of pitchers for the coming season. The Padres are looking for the right-handed pitching to help them compete in National League West.
Pivetta’s joining the Padres, who already have established starters such as Michael King, Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish. Last year’s NL Division Series saw the Padres battle closely with Los Angeles Dodgers. Pivetta is seen as a crucial addition to their depth of pitching.
Nick Pivetta, according to media reports, signed a $4-year deal worth $55m with the Padres. The Red Sox had made him a qualifying contract after his previous season. He chose to take advantage of free agency instead.
During the Boston Red Sox’s last season Pivetta had a record of 6-12 with a 4,14 ERA over 145.2 innings. Pivetta had 172 strikeouts, and his WHIP was 1.126. Nick Pivetta’s career records are 56-71 and 4.76 ERA over eight seasons in the major leagues, between the Philadelphia Phillies & Boston Red Sox.
Pivetta’s freedom of agency was delayed, partly because the Red Sox made a qualifying offer. San Diego loses its 2025 MLB Draft pick as compensation. Boston Red Sox gets a compensatory draft pick after the 2nd round in July.
Nick Pivetta will sign with San Diego after the Red Sox select him. The pick is somewhere in or near No. The draft for July will be held on or around July 77.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo)
February 13, 2025
Pivetta’s decision to reject the qualifying offer would have prevented him from signing a $21.05m one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Matt Waldron, Randy Vasquez, and Joe Musgrove were all expected to compete with each other for the Padres’ fifth starting spot, which was behind King, Cease Darvish and Joe Musgrove. Waldron and Vasquez will likely provide depth in the starting rotation against division rivals like the Los Angeles Dodgers or Arizona Diamondbacks.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on the Nick Pivetta signing first. The contract included a $3,000,000 signing bonus and a salary of $1,000,000 in 2025. It also includes $19,000,000 in 2026.
Nick Pivetta’s Padres’ contract has two opt-outs. The first is after the second and third year. He will receive a $1 million salary and $3 million bonus as well as $19 million by 2026. In 2027, he’ll earn $14 million and in 2028, $18 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan)
February 13, 2025
Passan noted the player opt-out provisions in the contract after the third and second years. Pivetta has flexibility to grow with San Diego Padres.
It appears that the Padres made this decision in order to minimize luxury tax consequences for 2025. The team could be managing their payroll in order to keep its key players, such as Dylan Cease or Luis Arraez, after the next season.
San Diego Padres financial strategy indicates that they will make an important playoff push for 2025 using their core group of current players. The Padres want to improve on their current performances. This includes a 5-game NLDS defeat to the Dodgers in the NLDS, not making the playoffs in 2023 and reaching the NL Championship Series 2022. Nick Pivetta’s signing shows their desire to improve their odds of a long playoff run.