Canadian Nick Pivetta became the last of the high-profile free-agent pitchers to reach an agreement this offseason, a backloaded $55-million, four-year contract with the San Diego Padres, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal, first reported by ESPN, was subject to a successful physical.
Pivetta, a native of Victoria, gets a $3-million signing bonus and salaries of $1 million this year, $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027 and $18 million in 2028.
He can opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons to become a free agent again. He would have received $23 million if he ends the deal after two seasons and $37 million if he cuts it short after three.
A right-hander who turns 32 on Friday, Pivetta was 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 26 starts and one relief appearance last year for Boston. He turned down a $21.05-million qualifying offer from the Red Sox.
Pivetta is 56-71 with a 4.76 ERA in eight MLB seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (2017-20) and Red Sox, who acquired him in an August 2020 trade. His four-seam fastball averaged 93.9 m.p.h. and he threw it 48.6% of the time along with a sweeper (25.7%), curveball (16.3%), cutter (5.9%) and slider (3.4%).
With the brothers and wife of late owner Peter Seidler fighting for control of the team, the Padres have had a rather quiet offseason, adding outfielders Jason Heyward and Connor Joe. San Diego was a finalist for Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, who signed with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
Because Pivetta turned down a qualifying offer, Boston will receive an extra pick before the third round of the amateur draft in July and the Padres will lose their second-highest selection, currently No. 64, along with $500,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation for 2026.
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