Padres address rotation depth, sign right-hander Nick Pivetta

Kevin Acee, The San Diego Union-Tribune on Feb 12, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PEORIA, Ariz. — Early Wednesday, on the day pitchers and catchers conducted their first official workout of spring training, the Padres said they were focused inward in search of starting pitching depth.

Later, they woke from their winter slumber.

The team agreed Wednesday to a four-year, $55 million deal with right-hander Nick Pivetta, who was arguably the top remaining starting pitcher on the free-agent market after a season in which he posted a 4.14 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) for the Red Sox.

Pivetta made 107 starts and 24 relief appearances over the past four-plus seasons with Boston. He had a 4.29 ERA over 633 innings in that span. He debuted for the Phillies in 2017 and made 71 starts for them before being dealt to the Red Sox at the trade deadline in 2020.

He slots into the Padres rotation behind Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish and Michael King and intensifies the competition for the final spot in the rotation (or two spots, depending on how the Padres structure their staff) between Jhony Brito, Stephen Kolek, Randy Vásquez and Matt Waldron.

The Padres have not announced the deal, which is pending a physical. Two sources confirmed the agreement, which was first reported by ESPN.

The contract pays Pivetta just $4 million in 2025, including a $1 million base salary and $3 million signing bonus, which helps the Padres with their ongoing cashflow challenges.

Pivetta, who turns 32 on Friday, can opt out after 2026 or ‘27. He is due $19 million in ‘26, $14 million in ‘27 and $18 million in ‘28.

Pivetta turned down a qualifying offer from the Red Sox, which would have guaranteed him $21.05 million this season. With the qualifying offer attached to his free agency, the Padres will forfeit a draft pick to the Red Sox somewhere between the Competitive Balance B round and the third round.