The New York Yankees have yet to do anything of significance this MLB offseason, but general manager Brian Cashman has said he is busy working the phones to get something done.
While the Yankees may ultimately re-sign Cody Bellinger, they seem more likely to swing some trades rather than make any other major free-agent additions, and those deals can obviously take rather long to fully develop.
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New York seems to be on the hunt for starting pitching and has been linked to numerous frontline starters this winter, but now, a new name has emerged as a potential target for the Yanks: San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta.
Pivetta signed a unique four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres last February that features opt outs after both 2026 and 2027. He is due to make $20.5 million next season, which could be a bit pricey for Hal Steinbrenner’s taste.
However, Ryan Garcia of Empire Sports Media feels that a match could make sense.
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“Would the Yankees be willing to take such a gamble? That is not clear, but they could use a right-handed starter that doesn’t have a long-term financial commitment,” Garcia wrote.
San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta. Credit:Â David Banks-Imagn Images.
Pivetta pitched to the tune of 2.87 ERA while allowing 129 hits and racking up 190 strikeouts over 181.2 innings of work in 2025. It was, by far, the best year of his career, as Pivetta owns a lifetime 4.47 ERA in nine big-league campaigns.
The 32-year-old entered the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 and sent three-plus seasons there before making his way to the Boston Red Sox in 2020. He developed into a much more reliable pitcher in Boston, becoming somewhat of a strikeout artist.
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Pivetta boasts a career 9.9 K/9 rate, having posted over 10 punchouts per nine innings four times. He also features great control, having logged a 2.5 BB/9 last year (he was at a 2.2 BB/9 in 2024).
That being said, Pivetta registered a .235 BABIP this past season, indicating that he may have been the beneficiary of some extraordinary good luck.
There is no question that the former fourth-round pick would represent a considerable risk for the Yankees given his contract situation, but there is also the chance that he opts out following the 2026 campaign, which would clear the rest of his money off the books.
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Plus, New York certainly would not have to surrender as much for Pivetta as it would for some of the other top hurlers rumored to be on the trade block.
Pivetta is a gamble, but there is no doubt that he is an enticing option for the Bronx Bombers.