The Red Sox may have just been handed a familiar name to circle this winter.
With Boston’s rotation leaning heavily to the left side, the club could have a clear opening for another right-hander, especially with Sonny Gray heading to free agency. Right now, the group includes Garrett Crochet, Payton Tolle, Ranger Suarez and Jake Bennett from the left side, while Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford give the Red Sox their right-handed options. Bello looks like the most likely of that trio to still be in the 2027 rotation, but there are still question marks there.
That’s where Nick Pivetta comes back into the conversation.
On Saturday, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the San Diego Padres declined Pivetta’s $14 million option, sending the veteran righty into free agency. Acee wrote: "The Padres declined the $14 million option on Nick Pivetta’s contract," Acee wrote.
"He will be a free agent. Padres could sign him to a new deal.
This was expected. There are questions about his elbow.
Could still work out a deal that protects team if he is hurt/rewards Pivetta if he remains healthy."
Pivetta is hardly a stranger in Boston. He spent more than four seasons with the Red Sox after being acquired during the 2020 season and remained with the team through 2024.
His run in Boston was solid, though his best work came after he moved on. In his final year with the Red Sox, he posted a 4.14 ERA across 27 appearances.
The turnaround was immediate in San Diego. In 2025, Pivetta delivered a 2.87 ERA in 31 starts for the Padres. Injuries slowed him in 2026, but he still managed a 2.86 ERA in eight starts and added two playoff starts, finishing those outings with a 3.52 ERA.
If he’s healthy, Pivetta would give Boston exactly the kind of electric arm it knows well. He was a fiery presence on the mound and quickly became a fan favorite during his time with the club.
The problem is the price. After an injury-hit season and with the Padres declining his option, it would be a surprise if he landed a deal that pushes beyond Boston’s budget.
Whether the Red Sox seriously chase a reunion depends on how they want to shape this rotation. They could stick with the current mix and trust one righty among the left-handed bulk, with Bello as the likeliest answer.
Or they could decide that’s not enough and go shopping. A trade this offseason involving one of the lefties, such as Bennett, would only sharpen the need for another starter.
At the very least, Boston should check the market. Pivetta is there, and he could help.
In Other News...
Red Sox Just Drew A Line On Franklin Arias Trade Talk
Franklin Arias has quickly become one of the more important names in the Red Sox system, and after a breakout minor league season in 2026, it is easy to see why his value has risen so sharply. Boston has been linked to plenty of trade chatter around the top prospect, including a reported exploration of a deal for star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, but Cincinnati was not interested in moving its young centerpiece.
For the Red Sox, the bigger takeaway is the line they appear to be drawing around Arias. The organization is expected to be careful with a player who has climbed into the upper tier of baseball's prospect rankings, and any serious consideration of moving him would likely require a major star coming back the other way. In other words, Boston is treating Arias less like a trade chip and more like the kind of talent it would take a true difference-maker to pry loose. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Offseason Fix Could Force A Tough Choice In The Outfield
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Arozarena would not come cheap, and that is where the conversation gets interesting for the Red Sox. Adding a player with that kind of profile could force the front office to make other roster decisions to make the pieces fit, particularly in the outfield, where a major addition tends to ripple through the rest of the depth chart. If Boston is serious about pursuing him, the bigger question may be less about whether he helps and more about what else has to change to make room. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Hold A Luis Robert Decision That Could Help Boston
The Red Sox are already weighing how to add more offense for the next stage of their push toward contention in 2027, and one name worth keeping in view is Luis Robert Jr. The former All-Star now sits with Baltimore, where his future could soon become a decision point if the Orioles pass on his 2027 option.
Roberts appeal is obvious for a Boston club looking for impact talent, even with the obvious health questions that have followed him in recent seasons. His mix of power and speed has long made him the kind of player teams monitor closely, and if Baltimore lets the situation move toward free agency, the Red Sox could have a real opening to explore. [Read more 🡒]