Why the Cubs should pay attention to Nick Pivetta rumors |
Dustin Riese
· · 1 hour ago
Leave it to the Winter Meetings to break the news that more starting pitcher help may be available. As if there weren't enough top names already on the trade block, a new name has been added or could be added in San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta. You know, the same Pivetta that came out of nowhere to emerge as the ace of the Padres staff last season before facing off against the Cubs in the Wild Card round.
If the report is accurate, this is another name for the Cubs to kick the tires on, and by all means, it is a perfect option for a team that would love to lock up a pitcher for the long haul. At 32 years old, Pivetta isn't the youngest name potentially available, but with four years of control left on his deal, this is someone the Cubs could build their rotation around for years. Coming off by far his best season to date, the stock has never been higher as Pivetta posted just the third winning season of his career. That alone is a big reason he has a 69-76 record over his nine seasons, and a 4.47 ERA is nothing to get excited about. It's his past two seasons that draw the most attention to him, as he has seen his ERA drop in each of the last four seasons while also improving across the board, even if the record may not show it. It was this season where he finally put it all together as Pivetta emerged as the Padres' ace by the playoffs, going 13-6 for the season with an impressive 2.87 ERA across 31 starts and 181 innings. He walked 50 and struck out 190, which was a career high for him in that area. Signed to a five-year deal before the start of last season, some may be wondering why the Padres would even consider trading him, especially with Michael King a free agent and Yu Darvish having what could be a career-ending Tommy John. The answer is simple: Like many teams that have spent tons of money the past few years, the Padres are trying to cut some payroll, especially with the uncertainty of baseball next season. Pivetta may not make a ton of money this season, but it's the rest of his deal that could be a financial burden, which is why the Padres may look to sell high while the Iron is hot. Granted, the Padres haven't yet entertained any offers for Pivetta, but should that become a reality, look for them to demand an extremely high return, which wouldn't come as a surprise. After all, you are getting someone who pitched like an Ace in 2025 and is coming off a career year in which he struck out more than 26% of the hitters he faced while walking just over 6%. He is, however, entering his age-33 season, which means by the end of his deal, he would be 36, and that alone could diminish the overall trade value of his return. When it comes to the financials, Pivetta made just one million in 2025, a complete and utter steal for a pitcher of his caliber, which is why he would have such a robust market should he get posted. It's what comes after the 2026 season, where the challenge comes into play as Pivetta is set to make $51 million over the final three years of that deal, including $19 million in 2027. That would still be considered a bargain in today's world, but with player options in both 2027 and 2028, trading for Pivetta could be a rental move that teams wouldn't be willing to make for much. Regardless, as risky a decision as it would be to trade for him, it's a decision the Cubs would love to make, as he can be one of the best when he is on. His fastball is his best pitch, sitting around 95-96 MPH with occasional 97 MPH-plus. It's his deception that comes with that fastball that makes it look faster than it is, and the Cubs learned that the hard way in the postseason. Pivetta also mixes in a steady diet of offspeed pitches, including an ever-improving breaking ball, as he is the definition of a late bloomer. With his name now being name-dropped, it will be curious to see what follows, as he could catapult himself atop the list of available trade arms.
