{"id":89491,"date":"2024-11-13T17:42:25","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T22:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=89491"},"modified":"2024-11-13T17:42:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T22:42:25","slug":"red-sox-nick-pivetta-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/13\/red-sox-nick-pivetta-free-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Fits for Red Sox Pitcher After Declining Qualifying Offer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With starting pitchers in high demand this offseason, Boston Red Sox right-hander <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pivetni01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Pivetta<\/a> will \u201calmost certainly\u201d reject their qualifying offer in search of a multi-year deal, which would make him a free agent. Given that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pivetta<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> made $7.5 million in his final year of arbitration last season, Boston\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/10\/10\/mlb-record-breaking-qualifying-offer\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">$21.05 million qualifying offer<\/a> came as a surprise. But in a somewhat surprising twist, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/insider\/story\/_\/id\/42331709\/mlb-offseason-2024-25-passan-predictions-juan-soto-roki-sasaki-corbin-burnes-pete-alonso\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ESPN\u2019s Jeff Passan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reports that the right-hander will \u201calmost certainly\u201d decline the one-year deal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heading into his age-32 season, Pivetta posted a 4.14 ERA over 145 \u2154 innings in 2024 and has the upside of a front-line starter. With plus stuff and plus command, he has the potential to be more than an upper-middle-tier starter, he just needs to put the pieces together. Passan suggests that at least a three-year deal should be waiting for Pivetta in free agency. A recent projection from his <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/insider\/story\/_\/id\/42189340\/mlb-2024-2025-top-50-free-agents-rankings-contract-projections\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ESPN colleague Kiley McDaniel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has the veteran right-hander landing a three-year, $63 million deal.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Also from <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JeffPassan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@JeffPassan<\/a>, he says Nick Pivetta almost certainly won\u2019t accept the qualifying offer from the Red Sox.<\/p>\n<p>He believes that Pivetta is going to land one of the biggest deals of the winter for a starter.<\/p>\n<p>Cubs, Orioles, and Braves among others are in the mix. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KCnC3d2bUw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/KCnC3d2bUw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Tyler Milliken \u26be\ufe0f (@tylermilliken_) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tylermilliken_\/status\/1856326394860458333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Best Fits for Free Agent Red Sox Right-Hander Nick Pivetta<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of the teams searching for starting pitchers this winter, the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves are all linked to Pivetta.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Baltimore Orioles<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No team was decimated by injuries quite like the Orioles were in 2024. Already missing closer <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bautife01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">F\u00e9lix Bautista<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they quickly lost starters <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/meansjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Means<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bradiky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Bradish<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=wellsty01,wells-006tyl,wells-004tyl&amp;search=Tyler+Wells&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyler Wells<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to season-ending elbow surgeries. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/e\/eflinza01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach Eflin<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=rogertr01,rogers002tre&amp;search=Trevor+Rogers&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trevor Rogers<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, both acquired at the deadline, are signed for 2025, but ace <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/burneco01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Corbin Burnes<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is not. Acquired in February <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/02\/01\/corbin-burnes-traded-orioles\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from the Milwaukee Brewers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, former Cy Young winner Burnes was exactly what Baltimore needed him to be. But he came with a caveat, he was only under contract for one more season. Though not Corbin Burnes, Pivetta is a solid right-hander who could be valuable to Baltimore <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/09\/28\/orioles-corbin-burnes-free-agency\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if they lose their ace<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Chicago Cubs<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Chicago&#8217;s starting rotation tied for the fifth-best ERA in baseball last season, the Cubs missed the postseason for the fourth straight year. This offseason though, the Cubs have their priorities set on how they want to improve their team for 2025. Having lost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hendrky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Hendricks<\/a> to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/06\/kyle-hendricks-angels-deal\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Los Angeles Angels<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the New York Post\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/11\/06\/sports\/yankees-check-in-corbin-burnes-blake-snell-including-mets-target\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jon Heyman reports<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cpitching is the Cubs\u2019 main focus.\u201d Chicago has a capable group of starters led by <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/i\/imanash01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shota Imanaga<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and Pivetta would be a clear upgrade from Hendricks. Even with a potential $21 million AAV, signing Pivetta would still allow Chicago to make much-needed upgrades to their offense.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Atlanta Braves<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/friedma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Fried<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> likely leaving, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/stridsp01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spencer Strider<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> injured, and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=mortoch02,mortoch01&amp;search=Charlie+Morton&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-11-13_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Charlie Morton<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8216;s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/13\/braves-charlie-morton-intends-return-2025\/\" target=\"_self\">future<\/a> (at least in Atlanta) uncertain, Atlanta&#8217;s interest in Pivetta is no surprise. Like Fried, Morton is also a free agent and while he intends on pitching next season, it might not be for the Braves. Despite a nine-year age difference, the two right-handers have posted similar numbers and share a reputation as reliable inning eaters. Pivetta could either join Morton in solidifying the back half of the Braves&#8217; rotation or be a cheap enough replacement allowing Atlanta to acquire more bats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Photo Credit: \u00a9 Eric Canha-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With starting pitchers in high demand this offseason, Boston Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta will \u201calmost certainly\u201d reject their qualifying offer in search of a multi-year deal, which would make him a free agent. Given that Pivetta made $7.5 million in his final year of arbitration last season, Boston\u2019s $21.05 million qualifying offer came as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4975,"featured_media":89583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1071],"tags":[48,258,2262,3008],"class_list":["post-89491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-redsox","category-mlb","tag-atlanta-braves","tag-baltimore-orioles","tag-mlb-free-agency","tag-nick-pivetta"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4975"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89491"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89491\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}