One of the highly ranked star remains one of the notable former Boston Red Sox players still available on the free-agent market as he searches for his next MLB destination. However, a return to Boston isn’t entirely off the table.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox are considered a strong potential landing spot for him, thanks to his familiarity with the organization and the potential boost he could provide to an improved pitching staff.
“Right-hander Nick Pivetta radiates talent, and teams’ pitching models adore his stuff,” Passan noted. “Teams in need of more starting pitching — the Cleveland Guardians, the San Diego Padres, even Boston, where the 32-year-old Pivetta spent the past five years — are obvious fits.”
Pivetta, who had an inconsistent 2024 season with a 4.14 ERA and 1.126 WHIP, opted for free agency after declining Boston’s $21.05 million qualifying offer. However, his market hasn’t been as strong as expected, leaving him unsigned as pitchers and catchers report for spring training this week.
In the meantime, the Red Sox have made moves to bolster their rotation, trading for Garrett Crochet and signing Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval—the latter not expected to pitch until late in the season due to recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Despite these additions, Pivetta’s return to Boston remains a possibility as the team continues to evaluate its pitching depth.
On paper, it doesn’t appear that there’s room in Boston’s rotation for Nick Pivetta. The Red Sox are set with a strong group headlined by Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and Tanner Houck, who’s coming off his first All-Star season. The rotation also includes Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, and Kutter Crawford, giving Boston a solid six-man mix.
While the Red Sox seem interested in experimenting with a six-man rotation, having extra pitching depth is never a bad thing—especially with the uncertainty surrounding Giolito, who’s returning from elbow surgery after missing all of last season. Pivetta’s experience and versatility could provide valuable insurance, whether as a starter or in a swingman role, making his potential return to Boston still a possibility despite the crowded rotation.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow remained noncommittal when asked Tuesday about the organization’s interest in bringing Nick Pivetta back. However, Boston finds itself in a favorable position regardless of how things unfold. They can afford to wait and potentially sign Pivetta if an injury opens up a spot in the rotation, or they could watch him sign elsewhere and receive a compensatory draft pick in return.
Jeff Passan of ESPN highlighted the intrigue surrounding Pivetta’s contract situation:
“The type of contract Pivetta is seeking, in the meantime, is of great interest to those considering pursuing him,” Passan wrote. “When a player remains a free agent on the cusp of spring training, teams smell blood in the water and start offering bargain-basement deals. Even saddled by the qualifying offer and its accompanying draft-pick compensation, Pivetta’s potential is so much higher than his fellow remaining free agents that he can hold firm at a strong multiyear ask.”
While Boston’s rotation looks solid on paper, Pivetta’s familiarity with the team, combined with the unpredictable nature of pitching depth, keeps the door open for a possible reunion—especially if his market softens in the coming weeks.