The San Diego Padres have declined their $14 million team option on starter Nick Pivetta for 2027, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. He will now become a free agent.
Apr 12, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (27), left, leaves the field with a trainer during the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Pivetta spent a long portion of the 2026 season on the injured list with a flexor strain. After exiting a start in late April, he eventually went on the 60-day IL and finally returned in early September. However, when he was healthy in the early and late stages of the regular season, Pivetta was mostly dominant . In eight total starts, he sported a record of 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA, a 1.010 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts against only eight walks across 34 2/3 innings.
He also made two postseason starts after the Padres clinched a Wild Card berth. In Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs, Pivetta gave up one run in 3 1/3 innings, contributing to a 4-1 win. He also started Game 3 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up two runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Padres won the game 4-3, but lost the series in four games to the eventual World Series champions .
The 33-year-old right-hander is now through two years of the four-year deal he signed before the 2025 season. It contains opt-outs after the second and third seasons, and the Padres have now exercised one of them.
Meanwhile, Padres reliever Wandy Peralta will exercise his $4.45 million player option for 2027, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Peralta has been a key piece in the Padres bullpen for three seasons now. In 2026, he had a record of 3-3 with a 3.61 ERA, a 1.319 WHIP, and 5o strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings (65 appearances).
Acee said this move from the Padres was expected, since questions remain about the health of Pivetta's elbow. While the right-hander will now become a free agent, the Padres could still sign him to a new deal, and this move may simply give them a chance to restructure the years and dollars on Pivetta's contract.
If they ultimately decide to move on, however, Pivetta could draw heavy interest from other teams despite the health concerns. After all, he has been a great starter for the Padres when healthy, and his 10 years of major league experience would be a welcome addition to most starting rotations.
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Main Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
