Nick Pivetta is one in every of a handful of former Boston Crimson Sox gamers nonetheless out on the free-agent market in the hunt for their subsequent MLB dwelling.
But it surely’s not fully out of the query for Pivetta to make a return to Boston.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan truly sees the the Crimson Sox as a powerful touchdown spot for Pivetta, given the right-hander’s familiarity with the group and Pivetta having the ability to bolster an improved pitching workers.
“Proper-hander Nick Pivetta radiates expertise, and groups’ pitching fashions adore his stuff,” Passan wrote in a chunk revealed Tuesday. “Groups in want of extra beginning pitching — the Cleveland Guardians, the San Diego Padres, even Boston, the place the 32-year-old Pivetta spent the previous 5 years — are apparent suits.”
Pivetta, who had an up-and-down 2024 season through which he posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.126 WHIP, opted to check the open market after he rejected Boston’s $21.05 million qualifying provide at first of the offseason. However Pivetta’s market wasn’t as strong as he anticipated, main him to nonetheless wait to signal with a group as pitchers and catchers from throughout MLB report back to spring coaching this week.
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Within the meantime, the Crimson Sox traded for Garrett Crochet and likewise signed Walker Buehler together with Patrick Sandoval, who isn’t anticipated to be able to pitch till late within the season after present process Tommy John surgical procedure in 2024.
On paper, there doesn’t look to be room in Boston’s rotation for Pivetta. Crochet, Buehler and Tanner Houck, who’s coming off the primary All-Star season of his profession, headline a rotation that additionally options Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford. The Crimson Sox seem to be they need to check out a six-man rotation, however having a surplus of pitching isn’t a nasty factor. And it’s to be decided what the Crimson Sox will get out of Giolito, who missed all of final season after present process elbow surgical procedure.
Crimson Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow didn’t tip his hand Tuesday when talking with reporters if the group had any curiosity in bringing Pivetta again. The Crimson Sox are in a win-win scenario, although. They will wait issues out and maybe signal Pivetta if an harm happens or see him signal elsewhere and decide up a compensatory decide within the course of.
“The kind of contract Pivetta is looking for, within the meantime, is of nice curiosity to these contemplating pursuing him,” Passan wrote. “When a participant stays a free agent on the cusp of spring coaching, groups scent blood within the water and begin providing bargain-basement offers. Even saddled by the qualifying provide and its accompanying draft-pick compensation, Pivetta’s potential is a lot increased than his fellow remaining free brokers that he can maintain agency at a powerful multiyear ask.”
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