Nick Pivetta has recently joined the San Diego Padres through free agency after playing the last five seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
The deal secured the Red Sox an additional draft selection — Boston made a qualifying offer at the start of the MLB offseason, which Pivetta turned down — and is said to be arranged to provide the Padres with some injury coverage.
Early reports suggested that Pivetta’s agreement with San Diego totals $55 million for a duration of four years. That may ultimately hold true, but the heavily backloaded agreement has some intriguing aspects that Ronald Blum of The Associated Press elaborated on Thursday.
Pivetta is said to be set to receive a $3 million signing bonus, in addition to salaries of $1 million in 2025, $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027, and $18 million in 2028.
Nonetheless, as per Blum, the Padres have the option to end Pivetta’s contract after two years or prolong it to five years should the right-hander sustain a designated injury.
According to contract details acquired by The Associated Press, “Blum stated that San Diego has a conditional team option for 2027 worth $14 million as part of the intricate deal.” “The Padres could exercise that option if he has a defined injury or surgery related to it at any time before 2026 and is placed on the injured list for over 130 consecutive days during any season or over a one-year span.”
Pivetta, 32, was on the injured list last season due to an elbow injury, so this stipulation might be connected to that specific issue.
However, if Pivetta remains injury-free in accordance with the previously mentioned specifications, he will have a $14 million player option available for 2027, according to Blum. Should Pivetta activate the 2027 option, he is expected to obtain an $18 million player option for 2028.
Should Pivetta sustain the injury, activating the Padres’ team option for 2027, they can terminate the contract following the 2026 season, indicating that the experienced pitcher will have earned $23 million in two years. He had turned into a free agent. According to Blum, the Padres have the option to extend the contract by activating a $5 million club option for 2029.
San Diego possesses a conditional $5 million option for 2029 that can be activated if Pivetta undergoes the identified injury or surgery related to that injury and is placed on the injured list for over 130 consecutive days during any season or within a one-year span, all taking place from July 1, 2026, through the 2028 season,” Blum stated.
Clearly, there’s much to process, but fundamentally, the Padres have options if Pivetta experiences a specific injury. If he remains healthy, San Diego has acquired a skilled pitcher with significant potential due to his ability to miss bats.
Pivetta concluded the 2024 season with a 6-12 record, a 4.14 ERA, and an average of 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 appearances (26 of which were starts).
