The Atlanta Braves have been awfully quiet this offseason, solely acquiring depth players to round out their lineup and pitching staff. This makes sense based on the injury plagued season in 2024.
But to compete in a stacked NL East, Atlanta needs to bolster their starting rotation after losing key players. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating offseason for former Boston Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta.
The veteran right-hander, who posted a 4.14 ERA across 26 starts and one relief appearance in 2024, is still searching for his next opportunity.
With less than a month to go until Spring Training, Pivetta remains one of the top free-agent arms on the market, and it seems like all eyes are on where he might land.
Nick Pivetta: A Reliable Arm Still on the Market
Pivetta’s journey this offseason took an interesting turn when he declined Boston’s qualifying offer, signaling that he’s hunting for a multi-year deal.
While the market has been moving briskly for some players, others — like Pivetta — have seen their paths stall a bit, largely because of the compensatory draft pick attached to a declined qualifying offer.
Still, Pivetta’s numbers and potential make him an attractive option for teams needing pitching depth.
Why the Braves Make Sense for Pivetta
Enter the Atlanta Braves, who are being floated as a logical landing spot for the 31-year-old.
According to FOX Sports’ Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner, Atlanta could use a steady arm like Pivetta to bolster their rotation.
It’s a rotation that has undergone some serious shakeups this offseason, most notably with the departure of ace Max Fried to the New York Yankees.
The Braves still have some promising young arms like Spencer Strider and AJ Smith-Shawver. There’s a clear need for a more experienced pitcher to round out the rotation.
Pivetta’s appeal goes beyond his traditional stats. While his 2024 ERA might not leap off the page, his underlying numbers tell a more compelling story.
His expected ERA (xERA) came in at a much sharper 3.51, and he finished with the 10th-best strikeout-to-walk ratio among starters with at least 100 innings pitched.
For a team like Atlanta, which prides itself on efficiency and limiting walks, Pivetta’s skill set could be an ideal fit.
What’s Holding Up the Deal?
The Braves offseason has been relatively quiet by their usual standards, and bringing in Pivetta could help them address some of the lingering uncertainty in their rotation.
With Fried gone and Reynaldo López converting back to a starter for the first time in years, there’s room for someone like Pivetta to stabilize things.
Add in the fact that Pivetta has been durable — logging over 120 innings in each of the last three seasons — and it’s easy to see why Atlanta might make a play for him.
Of course, the compensatory draft pick tied to Pivetta remains a hurdle, but the Braves are already slated to gain a pick after losing Fried.
If they’re willing to take a chance, they could find themselves with a solid mid-rotation arm capable of eating innings and delivering quality starts.
As the days tick closer to Spring Training, the clock is running out for both Pivetta and teams in need of pitching help.
Whether it’s Atlanta or another contender, the right fit could transform Pivetta from a free-agent question mark into a crucial piece of a playoff push.
