Padres sign Nick Pivetta to free agent contract
Credit: AP Photo
A.J. Preller knew the Padres needed to bolster their starting rotation. Day one of Spring Training ended with one of the team’s biggest needs now addressed.
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the San Diego Padres are finalizing a four-year $55 million contract with right-hander Nick Pivetta that includes a pair of opt-outs.
Pivetta, perhaps the best starting pitcher left on the free agent market, pitched to a 4.14 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox in 2024.
BREAKING: Right-hander Nick Pivetta and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a four-year, $55 million contract that includes a pair of opt-outs, pending physical, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 13, 2025
Pivetta’s contract is slated to have opt-outs after years two and three.
Nick Pivetta’s 8 Consecutive Strikeouts.
pic.twitter.com/sd1Ikb9ucf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 30, 2024
The deal guarantees him a $3 million signing bonus and a $1 million salary in 2025, $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027, and $18 million in 2028.
In addition, Pivetta rejected Boston’s qualifying offer of $21.05 million, which grants the Red Sox a compensation draft pick. For the Padres, signing Pivetta does come at the expense of losing a draft pick and forfeiting $500,000 from their international bonus pool for signing a player who rejected a qualifying offer per MLB rules.
Instead of making $21.05M, Nick Pivetta options for the longevity. $13.75M AAV. Padre! pic.twitter.com/rqpMis23cn
— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) February 13, 2025
San Diego now has a formidable one through four in their rotation. It’s still unclear if they will make any trade involving starters Dylan Cease or Michael King after the acquisition of Pivetta.
Armando Duenas is a 25 year-old journalist. He is a native San Diegan who grew up in the South Bay area. A lifelong Padres fan and baseball enthusiast, he resides just about fifteen minutes from Petco Park, where his love of the game began.