The San Diego Padres declined their $14 million club option on right-handed starting pitcher Nick Pivetta for 2027, making the 33-year-old a free agent. Pivetta returned to form after an extended absence due to an elbow injury, and the decision does not mean he will not return for next season, per a post on X by Kevin Acee.
Pivetta could have been retained under the terms of his original four-year, $55 million contract signed ahead of the 2025 season. He originally had player options worth $14 million for 2027 and $18 million for 2028, but a contractual provision was triggered after he spent 147 consecutive days on the injured list with an elbow flexor strain.
Pivetta made only four starts before landing on the injured list in mid-April and was out until September. He eventually returned to make eight regular-season starts, recording a 2.86 ERA across 34 2/3 innings. His 2026 campaign followed an outstanding first season in San Diego, when he established career highs with 31 regular-season starts and 181 2/3 innings, posting a 2.86 ERA with 190 strikeouts and finishing sixth in National League Cy Young voting.
The recurring elbow concerns played a significant role in the Padres' decision, particularly because Pivetta experienced a similar flexor strain with the Boston Red Sox in 2024. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller previously expressed the organization's interest in bringing the right-hander back through a new agreement, per The Athletic.
Article Continues BelowA revised contract could provide San Diego with additional protection against another extended injury absence while allowing Pivetta to explore his value on the open market. However, the Padres now risk losing a proven pitcher, especially in the wake of the uncertainty surrounding their starting rotation.
Regardless, declining the option removes the potential $32 million commitment associated with the remaining two years of his original agreement, and does not prevent the Padres from negotiating a new deal with the 33-year-old right-hander.