Right before the 2025 season, it looked as if the San Diego Padres hadn’t done enough to fortify their pitching staff. Rumors about offseason additions swirled, and the big target for the Friars wasn’t a leadoff hitter or a closer but a front-line arm in Roki Sasaki. In the end, Sasaki didn’t land in San Diego, but the Padres’ decision to back Nick Pivetta has paid off in a big way.
San Diego handed Pivetta a four-year, $55 million deal after Boston had extended only a one-year, $21 million qualifying offer—the kind of commitment the 32-year-old pitcher was seeking for real job security. The pickup has paid immediate dividends. With Yu Darvish sidelined by injury, Joe Musgrove not yet back to full strength, Michael King dealing with injuries, and Dylan Cease showing fluctuations, Pivetta stepped into a lead role and hasn’t looked back.
Through his first 24 outings, Pivetta has posted a career-best 4.1 bWAR and has emerged as one of the game’s most effective pitchers by several metrics. He leads the league with a 6.2 hits per nine innings rate and has logged 15 quality starts, a testament to his consistency and durability. The combination of his strike presence, improved control, and the Padres’ faith in him has kept San Diego squarely in the postseason conversation.
The contract is paying dividends for both sides. San Diego has secured reliable innings and a steady payroll commitment, while Pivetta has earned a level of financial security that hadn’t been readily available elsewhere. Padres fans are seeing a rotation that, even with injuries and missed targets, can contend thanks to Pivetta’s elite-era performance.
What this means going forward is simple: if Pivetta can sustain his form, and if the rest of the rotation can stay healthy or at least provide depth, San Diego’s window to compete for a deep playoff run broadens significantly. The Padres’ decision to back him—more than a single season’s worth of value—could serve as a model for teams balancing the need for stability with the push to win now.
Summary: The Padres gambled on long-term security for Pivetta and are getting a return that exceeds the investment. With the rotation stabilizing around a dominant Pivetta and a health question mark hanging over several colleagues, San Diego remains a compelling contender as the season unfolds. The positive trend around Pivetta’s performance offers a hopeful narrative for Padres fans: stability can translate into sustained success, and this contract could be a cornerstone as the team pursues postseason glory.