Pivetta Leaves After Contract Adjustment
The San Diego Padres have decided not to exercise their club option for right-hander Nick Pivetta, making him a free agent. The move was first reported by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pivetta originally signed with San Diego heading into the 2025 season on a four-year contract worth $55 million. That agreement included player opt-outs after the 2026 and 2027 seasons, along with an $18 million player option for 2028.
However, the financial structure of the deal changed due to Pivetta's health status during the 2026 campaign. Because he spent more than 130 days on the injured list in 2026, the contract terms shifted. Instead of the original provisions for that year, the Padres were given a $14 million option for 2027.
The team has now declined to pick up that $14 million option, ending Pivetta's tenure with San Diego.
2026 Season Marked by Injury
Pivetta's time in San Diego was interrupted early in the 2026 season. He made four appearances before being placed on the injured list in mid-April with a flexor strain.
He did not return to the major leagues until early September, following setbacks during his rehabilitation process.
Despite the limited playing time, Pivetta posted a 2.86 earned run average, a 3.18 expected fielding independent pitching (xFIP), and a 3.17 Statcast Enhanced Integrated ERA (SIERA) across eight starts. He pitched 34 2/3 innings during the regular season.
Pivetta also contributed to the team's postseason efforts, adding 7 2/3 frames of pitching in the playoffs.
History of Flexor Strains
The flexor strain that sidelined Pivetta in 2026 mirrors a previous injury he suffered. He dealt with a similar flexor strain in 2024 while playing for the Boston Red Sox. That prior injury affected his free agency market following the 2024 season.
Rotation Implications for San Diego
The departure of Pivetta leaves questions regarding the composition of the Padres' pitching staff. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller had previously hinted at the possibility of a new agreement with the right-hander, but those discussions did not result in a contract extension.
With Pivetta now a free agent, San Diego's remaining rotation options with major league experience include Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, JP Sears, and Jhony Brito.
The team faces additional changes as pitchers Michael King and Walker Buehler are set to hit free agency. This leaves the Padres with a smaller pool of experienced arms heading into the next offseason.