Padres Signing Nick Pivetta to $55 Million in Blockbuster Free Agent Signing

Noah Camras | Feb 12, 2025

Sep 11, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (37) on the mound against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres are signing the best remaining free agent starting pitcher.

On Wednesday, the Padres agreed to a four-year, $55 million deal with right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

More news: Blockbuster Dylan Cease Trade Idea Lands Padres Pitcher, Top Prospect From NL Rival

The deal has a pair of opt-outs, and is pending a physical.

BREAKING: Right-hander Nick Pivetta and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a four-year, $55 million contract that includes a pair of opt-outs, pending physical, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 13, 2025

Passan says the contract has opt-outs after the second and third years of the deal. It will pay him a $3 million signing bonus and just a $1 million salary in 2025. Then, he'll have a $19 million salary in 2026, a $14 million salary in 2027, and a $18 million salary in 2028.

As the Padres try to limit their payroll in 2025, this is a very backloaded deal.

Nick Pivetta’s deal with the Padres has opt-outs after Year 2 and Year 3. The deal will pay him a $3 million signing bonus and $1 million salary in 2025, $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027 and $18 million in 2028.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 13, 2025

Pivetta, 31, was by far the best remaining starting pitching on the free agent market, and fills a major need for the Padres. San Diego currently had just three viable starting pitchers on the roster in Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Yu Darvish, and were going to piece together a rotation after that.

Now, the Padres have four great options in the rotation, and Pivetta is a very solid No. 4 starter as he's coming off a 2024 season with the Boston Red Sox in which he had a 4.14 ERA with 172 strikeouts over 145.2 innings pitched.

More news: Padres Will Make 2 Blockbuster Trades in Spring Training, Says MLB Analyst

The Padres were planning on looking internally to fill both the Nos. 4 and 5 roster spots in the rotation. Now, they only have to fill one spot, at least for now barring any trades.

For more Padres news, head over to Padres on SI.