In a bit of a surprise move, the Boston Red Sox extended a qualifying offer to right-hander Nick Pivetta before Monday’s deadline. The team declined to extend the one-year, $21.05 million deal to outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
Pivetta, who turns 32 in February, posted a 4.14 ERA in 27 games, 26 starts, with a 6 percent walk rate and 28.9 percent strikeout rate in 2024.
The decision to give Pivetta the QO comes at a time when the Red Sox have emphasized adding starting pitching depth. Over the past five seasons, Pivetta has posted a 4.29 ERA in 121 games, 107 starts. Assuming Pivetta remains in Boston either by accepting the QO or signing a new deal, he will bring depth to the rotation. But, if the Red Sox plan to add to the rotation as they have said they intend to do, it may create a bit of a surplus with Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito already in the mix. It also could signal the Red Sox plan to trade from their starting rotation.
There is no guarantee, however, that Pivetta takes the deal or remains with the team. While Pivetta earned $7.5 million in his final year of arbitration this past season and would see a significant raise if he accepted the deal, he could also be looking for a longer deal coming off one of his best seasons in the rotation. The Athletic’s Tim Britton projected Pivetta to sign for three years, $48 million on the open market.
Pivetta, along with the 12 other players given qualifying offers, has until Nov. 19 to accept or decline the one-year, $21.05 million deal. If he declines and signs elsewhere, the Red Sox would receive an additional draft pick after the second round in 2025.
With Pivetta and O’Neill, there was a case to be made for each player to receive a QO, particularly given the team’s needs for right-handed power and starting pitching. Not making an offer to O’Neill could signal the team seeks to add right-handed power elsewhere. It is possible the team could work a deal with O’Neill later in free agency.
O’Neill, 29, hit a team-leading 31 homers in 113 games along with a .241 average and .847 OPS but 33.6 percent strikeout rate. The Athletic projects O’Neill to land a three-year, $45 million deal in free agency.
In addition to Pivetta, the other players to have receive qualifying offers are Willy Adames, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Teoscar Hernández, Sean Manaea, Nick Martinez, Anthony Santander, Luis Severino, Juan Soto and Christian Walker.
Earlier on Monday, the Red Sox also exercised outfielder Rob Refsnyder’s $2.1 million team option for 2025. Refsnyder figures to remain in a similar fourth outfielder/platoon role that he’s held the last three seasons. Last year, Refnsyder posted an .830 OPS in 93 games, but hit lefties to the tune of a .941 OPS.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Giolito also exercised his $19 million player option for next season. Though he’s recovering from an internal bracing procedure he had in March, Giolito is aiming to be ready to pitch by spring training.
In other recent news, Wilyer Abreu won an American League Gold Glove award in right field on Sunday. He became the first Red Sox rookie to win a Gold Glove since Fred Lynn in 1975. Abreu and Jarren Duran were also named Silver Slugger finalists. Winners will be announced next week.
Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline for qualifying offers also marked the official start of free agency.
General managers meetings take place this week in San Antonio, Texas. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the front office have spent the past month mapping out offseason scenarios and now can begin to engage with agents on deals and with other teams on potential trades. There’s plenty of work to be done.
(Photo: Stephen Brashear / USA Today)
