The Padres already have enough rotation uncertainty on their hands without creating more of it. That’s why Nick Pivetta’s contract situation feels pretty straightforward: if the elbow checks out, San Diego should pick up the two-year, $32 million club option and move on.
Pivetta’s extended time on the injured list flipped his player option into a club option, putting the decision in the Padres’ hands. That same elbow is the only real hang-up. If the medical review doesn’t uncover a major problem, the case for bringing him back is strong.
And the reason is simple: when he came back, he pitched well enough to matter.
Pivetta returned from a right flexor strain on Sept. 7 and finished the stretch with a 2.05 ERA. He made two postseason appearances, and the Padres won all six of his starts after he came back. That doesn’t erase the concern about his elbow, but it does tell you what the Padres had when he was available - a starter they could trust.
That matters a lot for a team staring at an unsettled 2027 picture. Randy Vásquez is the only established starter locked in to return.
Joe Musgrove did give the Padres an encouraging postseason comeback after elbow surgery, but he still has to build back toward a full starter’s workload. Yu Darvish has two years left on his deal, yet there’s no sign he’ll even pitch again.
Michael King can opt out and become one of the top starters on the market. Walker Buehler is headed to free agency.
MLB.com’s breakdown of the Padres’ rotation has King likely opting out, with Musgrove and Darvish both carrying separate questions about availability. Even with Pivetta in the fold, San Diego may still need at least two starters. If the Padres decline his option, they’d be back in the market for another arm at a time when dependable innings are expensive and hard to find.
The alternative is chasing a replacement and probably paying more for someone they know less about.
Pivetta’s return gave the Padres real value in a season where they needed it. He supplied strong innings, and his postseason work reminded the club why it committed to him in the first place. On the current market, two years and $32 million isn’t a steep price for that kind of starter.
There’s also the bigger Padres reality: A.J. Preller has made a habit of rebuilding rotations on the fly.
He’s been good at it, but the need keeps coming up, and it’s being tested again here. The medical review is the final checkpoint.
If the elbow raises serious concern, everything changes.
For now, though, the path is clear enough. The Padres still have to sort out Musgrove’s workload, Darvish’s future and how hard they can push for King.
They need front-of-the-rotation help, and they may need another reliable depth option too. Retaining Pivetta would help settle one of those problems before the offseason even gets rolling.
In Other News...
Padres Owners Just Raised The Stakes For A Huge Offseason
The Padres new principal owners, Kwanza Jones and Jos E. Feliciano, used a letter to season-ticket members to put their intentions in plain language: they want a roster built to chase a World Series championship. It was a notable message for a fan base that has heard plenty about ambition in recent years, but not always seen it matched with the results on the field.
They also acknowledged the clubs recent performance and said they expect to make significant moves this offseason to improve the team. Pitcher Joe Musgrove has voiced confidence that the new ownership group is serious about winning, and now the real test is whether that conviction turns into the kind of roster changes Padres fans have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Offseason Buzz Now Centers On One Rumor Fans Needed Clarified
As the Padres get deeper into an offseason already defined by payroll questions and roster speculation, one name has surfaced in the chatter: a Yankees outfielder who is expected to hit free agency. The connection has only added to the intrigue around San Diegos plans, especially with talk circulating about the club potentially looking to move money off the books while trying to keep its core competitive.
Manny Machado, though, is not viewed as a realistic trade candidate, even with those larger-contract discussions in the background. Elsewhere on the roster front, Ty France and Freddy Fermin have given the club something more concrete to celebrate, with both standing as Gold Glove finalists and winners set to be announced on Nov. 1. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face Two Tricky Veteran Decisions That Could Reshape This Roster
Gavin Sheets gave the Padres a useful look this season, but his place on the roster is still far from settled as the club weighs a broader push toward getting younger. The outfielder and DH has been dealing with foot injuries, though the current expectation is that he can avoid surgery and be ready for spring training, which at least keeps him in the conversation heading into the winter.
Nick Pivettas situation is even more pressing, because the Padres have to sort out his contract shortly after the World Series while also monitoring elbow and forearm issues. His deal includes options, and a renegotiation is on the table, which leaves San Diego with a veteran pitching decision that could shape both the rotation and the payroll before the offseason really gets moving. [Read more 🡒]