REPORT: Longtіme Red Sox stаrter gets $55M free аgent deаl, Boston gets drаft рісk іn return

A longtime Red Sox starter is headed west after a long journey on the free agent market — and Boston is getting a compensatory draft pick as a result.

Nick Pivetta's time with the Red Sox is over now that he has signed a complicated deal with San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)AP

Righty Nick Pivetta is in agreement on a complicated, backloaded contract with the Padres that maxes out at four years and $55 million, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The news officially ends Pivetta’s tenure in Boston, which lasted 131 appearances (107 starts) over parts of five seasons.

In November, the Red Sox made the somewhat surprising decision to issue Pivetta a qualifying offer valued at $21.05 million for 2025. He chose to decline it and search for a larger deal on the open market. As a result, the Red Sox will receive a compensation pick right before the third round, likely at or around Pick No. 77. The Padres will forfeit their second-highest pick (No. 64 overall) to sign Pivetta and also forfeit $500,000 in international bonus pool money.

Pivetta, who had an up-and-down Red Sox tenure that resulted in a cumulative 4.29 ERA over 633 innings, received a backloaded contracts that will allow him chances to opt out and re-test free agency after both 2026 and 2027. Pivetta will earn a $3 million signing bonus, then just $1 million in 2025 before getting $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027 and $18 million in 2028.

Put another way, it’s a two-year, $23 million contract with a two-year, $32 million player option at the end of 2026 or a three-year, $37 million deal with an $18 million option for a fourth season. Pivetta’s $13.75 million annual average value, of course, fell well short of the value of the qualifying offer.

The Red Sox are now expected to have four of the top 90 picks in July’s draft, starting with the 15th overall pick in the first round. (UPDATE: Boston will forfeit its second pick at No. 54 after agreeing to terms with Alex Bregman later Wednesday.)

Pivetta, who turns 32 on Friday, was originally acquired along with Connor Seabold in a trade deadline deal that sent relievers Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman to the Phillies in 2020. Boston was no longer a great fit for him once the club upgraded its rotation by trading for Garrett Crochet and signing Walker Buehler. After losing his last start in a Red Sox uniform on September 27, Pivetta was emotional.

“It’s my last start, so far, for me being a Red Sox,” Pivetta said. “It has been a hefty four years, almost five years for me. There’s a lot to be grateful for. A lot of opportunities have been given. Tried to take advantage of every single one of them.

“A lot of memories. A lot to be grateful for.”