The Boston Red Sox made significant moves this offseason, bolstering their starting rotation by acquiring key man and another star. These additions suggest the team is unlikely to re-sign veteran pitcher Nick Pivetta. Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball predicts Pivetta could depart for the Toronto Blue Jays, possibly on a two-year, $40 million deal with an opt-out clause.
“Pivetta’s downside lies in his inability to finish any of the past four seasons with an ERA under 4.00, along with the draft capital teams must forfeit to sign him,” Finkelstein noted. “If there’s one team desperate enough to overlook the draft cost at this stage, it’s the Blue Jays, who have missed out on most top free agents—many tied to qualifying offers.”
Pivetta, who has started 107 games for the Red Sox over five seasons, would gain a chance to prove his former team wrong by joining a division rival. The Blue Jays have struggled to lure star free agents but have landed Andrés Giménez via trade. While an offseason featuring Giménez and Pivetta isn’t ideal for Toronto, it’s a respectable outcome.
Pivetta could strengthen the Blue Jays’ rotation as a reliable back-end arm alongside Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, and Chris Bassitt. His track record against the Red Sox includes a stellar 0.69 ERA and 15 strikeouts in two starts. Additionally, he has performed well at Rogers Centre, posting a 3.74 ERA across seven starts. If he signs with Toronto, Pivetta could provide consistent production and give the Blue Jays an edge in matchups against his former club.
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