Nick Pivetta’s time with the Red Sox might not be over after all.
Pivetta appeared bound for a Boston exit once the 2024 season concluded. The Red Sox presented a qualifying offer to the veteran right-hander, but Pivetta turned it down to explore all of his options in free agency. And one of those options might be staying in Boston, as the club already has seen the likes of Blake Snell, Max Fried and Nathan Eovaldi fly off the open market.
“With Eovaldi off the market, the Red Sox could now pursue a reunion with Pivetta, who declined a qualifying offer from Boston last month,” MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote in a column published Tuesday. “The draft-pick compensation attached to the right-hander could hamper his market, two National League executives said, making a return to Boston the most logical move for both sides.”
Feinsand’s report doesn’t necessarily mean the Red Sox are prioritizing Pivetta as they try to improve their rotation. A legitimate ace — Corbin Burnes — still is available in free agency and there are a number of high-end starters who appear to be available for trade, including Garrett Crochet and Dylan Cease.
But a reunion with Pivetta wouldn’t be as expensive as any of those options, so the Red Sox theoretically could find common ground with the 31-year-old and then dedicate the bulk of their resources to other needs.
