It seems the Red Sox have a better understanding of the free agent market than we initially thought.
Boston faced some criticism this week for offering a qualifying offer to starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, which would pay him over $21 million for the upcoming season. However, the Red Sox aren’t just throwing money around recklessly.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi on “Hot Stove” this Tuesday, Pivetta’s market is “surprisingly strong.” Despite a 6-12 record and an ERA that doesn’t jump off the page, Pivetta’s stuff is impressive, and his underlying stats are solid.
Morosi noted, “His strikeouts per nine innings are around 10.2, a number that’s really catching the eye of executives in the industry. They believe he has the potential to become an even more impactful pitcher than he’s been so far. Getting him out of Fenway Park could make him even more effective.”
Pivetta now has the option to accept the qualifying offer, a one-year deal, or test the free agent waters. If he chooses to leave, the Red Sox would receive a second-round compensatory draft pick.
“The qualifying offer is now over $20 million, so for a player who earned around $7.5 million last season, it’s pretty tempting to simply accept that offer, secure the money, and stay in Boston,” Morosi explained. “We’ll see what Nick Pivetta and his agents decide in the coming days.”
The Red Sox now hold the advantage, as they can either keep Pivetta for roughly what he would have earned on the open market or secure a second-round draft pick if he chooses to sign with another team.
