The San Diego Padres’ latest move this MLB offseason is interesting. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Padres have signed veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta to a four-year, $55 million deal.
And while the signing itself isn’t exactly shocking, what about the structure of the contract? Now, that’s where things get intriguing.
A Backloaded Deal with Built-in Flexibility
This deal is heavily backloaded. We’re talking a $3 million signing bonus and a laughably low $1 million salary for 2025. But then, things ramp up—$19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027, and $18 million in 2028.
Opt-outs are also built in after years two and three. Clearly, this move is designed to help the Padres manage their payroll now while maintaining flexibility for the future.
And that payroll? Yeah, it’s creeping up. Even after shedding some big contracts last offseason, San Diego is already pushing a $194 million payroll for 2025—about $30 million more than last year’s Opening Day number. For a team trying to be cost-conscious, they’re still spending.
Where Pivetta Fits in the Rotation
So, where does Pivetta fit? With Joe Musgrove sidelined for the year after Tommy John surgery, the Padres needed another reliable arm to slot behind Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, and Michael King.
Pivetta brings experience, durability, and—perhaps most importantly—the ability to miss bats. Over the last four seasons with the Red Sox, he averaged 156 innings with a 4.33 ERA and a solid 26.9% strikeout rate.
Last season, he posted a 4.14 ERA in 145⅔ innings while keeping his walk rate to a career-low 6.1%.
Padres Quiet Offseason Gets Its First Big Move
This move is also notable because the Padres’ offseason has been quiet. General manager A.J. Preller hasn’t made any big splashes until now. They brought back catcher Elias Diaz in January and only recently added Connor Joe and Jason Heyward on $1 million deals to platoon in left field. But signing Pivetta? That’s their first real move of the winter.
Now, does this make the Padres instant contenders? Not necessarily. But it does address a clear need in the rotation. With Pivetta’s durability and strikeout potential, this could be a sneaky good signing—especially if he outperforms that 4.33 career ERA.
The Padres might not be making the flashy moves of years past, but with this deal, they’re quietly keeping themselves in the mix.
