Padres Decline Nick Pivetta's $14 Million Option
San Diego passes on the team option for the right-hander, who now becomes a free agent after a season limited by injury.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball
The San Diego Padres declined the $14 million option on Nick Pivetta's contract, making the veteran pitcher a free agent. Pivetta made eight regular-season starts in 2026 after suffering a right elbow flexor strain.
Why it matters
The decision ends Pivetta's tenure with San Diego after an injury-shortened season that followed a strong 2025 campaign. It leaves the rotation open and sets up the free-agent market for the veteran right-hander.
Pivetta made eight regular-season starts in 2026 and spent nearly five months on the injured list before returning in September. His 2.87 ERA over 31 starts in 2025 placed him sixth in National League Cy Young voting, while his 1.45 ERA across four September starts marked a late-season rebound.
The players
Nick Pivetta
Right-handed pitcher who signed a four-year, $55 million contract with San Diego and finished sixth in 2025 National League Cy Young voting.
San Diego Padres
Major League Baseball club based in San Diego that acquired Pivetta on a four-year, $55 million contract.
The details
The Padres' decision came after Pivetta's extended injured-list stay turned what had been a player option into a team option. Pivetta also made two postseason appearances for San Diego in 2026, and the Boston Red Sox traded depth player Nate Eaton to the Athletics for minor-league right-hander Jareth Rayo in a separate move.
Timeline
• 2024 season: Pivetta had a similar flexor strain while with the Red Sox.
• 2025 season: Pivetta posted a 2.87 ERA with San Diego.
• September 2026: Pivetta returned from the injured list.
• Saturday, November 1, 2026: The Padres declined the $14 million option.
Season Trajectory
The Padres' choice to decline Pivetta's option reflects how injury-affected contract options can shift control of a pitcher's future from the player to the team. It also reshapes San Diego's rotation planning heading into the offseason.
Pivetta is now a free agent, so his availability and destination will shape pitching depth for fantasy and real-world rotations this winter. Fans tracking the Padres should watch for any new contract agreement as the offseason begins.
The takeaway
Injury-related contract structures can change quickly, so reviewing option triggers and injured-list provisions is worth doing for any player with an unusual timeline. Pivetta's late-season return gives teams a reason to assess his health closely before making an offer.
Further reading
For more on the club's roster moves, see the latest San Diego Baseball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
