The San Diego Padres declined their $14-million club option on starter Nick Pivetta, making the right-hander a free agent, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pivetta originally held a player option this winter. However, it reverted to a club option after he spent more than 130 consecutive days on the injured list in 2026 due to an elbow injury. Had the Padres exercised their option now, Pivetta would have returned for the third season of his four-year deal and would have owned an $18-million player option next offseason.
The 33-year-old Canadian joined San Diego before the 2025 season on a $55-million deal. He enjoyed a career year in 2025 when he put up a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 190 strikeouts in 31 starts, earning Cy Young votes for the first time. As part of his heavily backloaded contract, Pivetta earned just $1 million in 2025.
Pivetta appeared to be on his way toward another dominant year before landing on the IL in early April. He missed nearly five full months but returned in September and made four starts down the stretch, plus another two in the playoffs.
Despite his recent injury history, Pivetta could stand out in what's projected to be a weak class of free-agent pitchers. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2021, he owns a 3.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 10.0 K/9 while averaging nearly 140 innings per season.
The 10-year veteran is the second Padres starter to become a free agent in the offseason's early days after Michael King opted out of his contract.
Meanwhile, left-hander Wandy Peralta chose to remain in San Diego as he opted into the final season of his contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The 35-year-old Peralta put up a 3.61 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 50 strikeouts over 65 appearances (five starts). He'll earn $4.45 million in 2027.
