Reds avoid disastrous outcome after bizarre free agent target signs with Padres

Even with the concerning injury update earlier this week involving top prospect Rhett Lowder, the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation looks to be the strength of their team heading into spring training. The trio of Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, and Nick Martinez will headline the Reds rotation with Brady Singer, Andrew Abbott, and host of others ready to contribute as well.

Cincinnati's rotation depth was one of the biggest reasons it was always baffling to hear the Reds linked to Nick Pivetta earlier this winter. Reds fans will remember the odd rumors circulating earlier this offseason claiming that Cincinnati had interest in signing the right-hander; and this was after the club brought back Martinez on a qualifying offer and traded for Singer.

Reds fans can rest easy now because Pivetta is officially off the market. The former Boston Red Sox hurler inked a four-year, $55 million deal with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, ending Pivetta's long and drawn out free agency.

Bizarre Reds rumors can be put to bed after Nick Pivetta signs with Padres

Pivetta's deal offers the 32-year-old the ability to opt out after both the 2026 and 2027 seasons. But the money itself is not the issue. Much like Martinez, Pivetta was handed a qualifying offer earlier this offseason. But unlike Martinez, Pivetta declined the offer and preferred instead to test free agency.

Pivetta received little fanfare on the open market due to the fact that his signing carried with it draft compensation. Because Pivetta rejected the Red Sox qualifying offer, any team that signed him to a free agent contract would have to forfeit one or more draft picks.

The Padres will surrender their second-highest pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and $500,000 in international bonus pool money. That was a price that the Reds were never going to pay, and another reason why the link between Cincinnati and Pivetta was so peculiar.

Reds fans needn't worry. He's San Diego's problem now. However, if Nick Krall and the Reds ownership were serious about pursuing Pivetta in free agency, perhaps agreeing to a contract extension with Tyler Stephenson before the 2025 campaign gets underway would be a good way to spend those funds.

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