The Padres may have passed on Nick Pivetta’s $14 million option, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to move on from him.
San Diego is still “interested” in a reunion with the veteran right-hander, according to Robert Murray of FanSided on Tuesday. That lines up with what AJ Preller said the same day at the GM Meetings, when he acknowledged the team told Pivetta during the opt-out process that it wanted to keep the door open for a return.
Pivetta was San Diego’s ace in 2025 after signing a four-year, $55 million deal in February of that year. He went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 31 games, and over the last two seasons he has ranked in the top 15 in ERA, WHIP and opponents OPS.
This past season was a different story for much of the year. Pivetta made four starts before going down until the beginning of September, then came back and pitched well, including starting two playoff games during the postseason run. He finished 2026 with a 3-2 record and a 2.86 ERA in eight regular-season appearances.
The injury history could be part of why San Diego declined the option, even if the fit still makes sense. The Padres are trying to sort through a rotation that could lose pieces, and Pivetta remains one of the names in the mix.
Michael King is also a free agent, and San Diego has shown interest in bringing him back as well, especially after his huge 2026 season and gutsy playoff work.
There are multiple paths ahead for the Padres, but a return to Petco Park is very much on the table for Pivetta.
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Adrian Morejon is one of the more interesting names in that mix. The pending free agent has said he wants to stay with the Padres, even with other teams showing interest, and he made those intentions clear after San Diego was eliminated from the playoffs. Meanwhile, the club has reportedly shown interest in free agent starter Tarik Skubal, a sign that the Padres may be prepared to look outside the organization as they try to stabilize a staff that could change in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]