MLB Rumors: Ex-Red Sox Nick Pivetta Finally Lands Contract With NL Contender

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta waited and waited on the free-agent market to sign with a team.

That finally happened Wednesday night.

Pivetta, who spent the last five seasons with the Red Sox, agreed to a four-year, $55 million deal with the San Diego Padres, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Passan noted that Pivetta’s deal comes with opt-outs after the second and third seasons.

Pivetta had the chance to rejoin the Red Sox, who offered him the $21.05 million qualifying offer at the start of the offseason. But Pivetta instead decided to test the open market and now will make much less money in 2025.

While Pivetta’s contract has an average annual value of $13.75 million, he’ll have just a $1 million salary with the Padres this upcoming season, per Passan. Pivetta’s salary will go up in subsequent years, according to Passan, with the veteran right-hander making $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027 and $18 million in 2028. Passan added that Pivetta’s contract comes with a $3 million signing bonus.

The Red Sox made out with Pivetta going to the Padres as Boston will receive a compensatory round pick.

The 31-year-old had an up-and-down tenure with the Red Sox, posting a 37-41 record with 4.29 ERA and a 10.2 strikeout-per-nine ratio. His durability might be his greatest strength as he made at least 30 starts in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022 and followed that with 38 appearances in 2023 as he split his time as a starter and reliver.

Pivetta, who broke into the majors in 2017 with the Phillies and spent three-plus seasons with Philadelphia, now joins a Padres starting rotation which features Dylan Cease, Michael King, Yu Darvish and Randy Vasquez.

Pivetta will get a chance to face the Red Sox when Boston visits San Diego from Aug. 8-10.