One of the last remaining top-tier starters is officially off the market. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) has signed a four-year deal with the San Diego Padres worth $55 million.

The right-hander hit free agency after surprisingly declining the qualifying offer from the Boston Red Sox, which would have netted him just North of $21 million for the 2025 season.

Since joining the Red Sox during the 2020 season, the soon-to-be 32-year-old has carved out a trait of being a strikeout artist who keeps the walks in check, posting a 2.2 BB/9 and a 10.6 K/9 last season. He also authored a 4.78 K/BB rate last season through 145 2/3 innings and finished the campaign with a 103 ERA+. He finished the year with a 1.126 WHIP and crafted a 1.8 bWAR in the process. Pivetta’s career ERA sits at 4.76.

Using a five-pitch mix, Pivetta gains the strikeouts by mixing his four-seam fastball, which has over 11.2 inches of vertical drop, with a curveball that boasts 58.2 inches of drop, while mixing in a cutter, slider, and sweeper.

While Pivetta is no stranger to striking out batters and keeping his command in check, the B.C. product struggled with the long ball with the Red Sox, surrendering 28 homers to the tune of a 1.7 HR/9. He struggled at times in 2023, which is why the Red Sox used him in relief that year, but he will likely find himself in the rotation with the Padres heading into 2025 and beyond. One of the reasons his FIP floated above the 4.00 mark in 2024 despite the low walk rates was the home runs, so moving to the NL West and away from Fenway Park and the AL East (53.5% of his home runs last year) could be beneficial in bringing those numbers down.

It’s been a tough offseason for Padres fans, as the club is embroiled in an ownership battle while spending very little this winter to cut costs (hence why Pivetta is earning under $5 million this winter). The Padres will be tacked with draft pick compensation due to the rejected qualifying offer by the Canuck.