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Red Sox Reuniting With Ex-Starter Floated After Failed Free Agency

By Chris Schad

Sep 17, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Sep 17, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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The Boston Red Sox have made a lot of noise this offseason, but it hasn’t resulted in a lot of action. While Boston signed Walker Buehler, Patrick Sandoval, and Aroldis Chapman as notable free agents, it hasn’t been able to land the big move such as signing Alex Bregman or trading for Nolan Arenado.

Most of the discussion has been centered around the pair of All-Star infielders, but there could be another big move on the way. Good teams never have enough starting pitching, and it could lead Boston to reunite with one of their key arms from the past couple of years.

MLB Insider Jeff Passan Believes Red Sox Could Reunite With Nick Pivetta

ESPN’s Jeff Passan updated the status of the free agent market and noted that Nick Pivetta was “an obvious fit” to return to the Red Sox next season. While the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians are also in the market, the Red Sox are at an advantage after offering a $21.05 million qualifying offer in November.

Pivetta turned that offer down, but it attached draft pick compensation to any team interested in signing him to a deal. The Red Sox wouldn’t have to give up a pick to bring him back to Boston, but the sticking point has been Pivetta’s quest for a multi-year deal, which has been tough to find, whether it be in Boston or somewhere else.

“The type of deal Pivetta is seeking, in the meantime, is of great interest to those considering pursuing him,” Passan wrote. “When a player remains a free agent on the cusp of spring training, teams smell blood in the water and start offering bargain-basement deals. Even saddled by the qualifying offer and its accompanying draft-pick compensation, Pivetta’s potential is so much higher than his fellow remaining free agents’ that he can hold firm at a strong multi-year ask.”

According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, this leaves Pivetta with a few options. He can hope the Red Sox offer him a one-year deal and hit the market next year, or he can wait to sign after July’s MLB Draft when the draft pick compensation expires. Passan believes the second option is unlikely, and even if Pivetta came back, he would be in the same utility role with Garrett Crochet, Buehler, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito and Tanner Houck already ticketed for Boston’s rotation.

It’s the latest chapter in what has been a disastrous offseason for Pivetta, but he’ll hope something pops up as teams report for Spring Training.

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