Padres Decline Nick Pivetta's Club Option, Making Him A Free Agent

The San Diego Padres will be entering the offseason with just one pitcher who made more than six starts in 2026.

That became the scenario after the Padres declined their $14 million club option on right-hander Nick Pivetta's contract Saturday, according to a report by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Padres faced a 2 p.m. PT Monday deadline to pick up the option. Also, left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta, as expected, opted into his $4.45 million for 2027, the final year of his contract, per MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.

It is still a possibility that the Padres and Pivetta are able to come to a new deal, but the pitcher will officially hit the open market following Monday's deadline.

Pivetta was the Padres' Opening Day starter this year, his first time getting that assignment in his career, but then was removed from his fourth start with a right elbow injury. He didn't return until mid-September, which shifted the $14 million for 2027 from a player option to a club option due to a clause in his contract about spending 130 consecutive days on the injured list.

The 33-year-old made four starts to finish the regular season, then two more in the postseason. There was also an $18 million player option for 2028 that was in play. The Padres may have had concerns about Pivetta's right elbow.

Now, right-hander Randy Vasquez is the top returning member of the rotation with 23 starts this year, with left-hander JP Sears, a nontender candidate, second with six. That leaves president of baseball operations A.J. Preller with plenty of work to do regarding the rotation. Another starter, right-hander Joe Musgrove, made a single postseason appearance after having Tommy John surgery two years ago and experiencing setbacks during the season that pushed back his return to action.