Padres’ uncertain 2027 rotation makes Nick Pivetta’s contract option an easy call

The Padres have enough starting-pitching problems waiting for them. Making another problem out of Nick Pivetta should be a discussion that ends quickly. His extended stay on the IL converted his player option into a club option, leaving San Diego to decide whether to retain him for two years and $32 million. Provided his elbow passes a thorough medical review, the Padres should exercise it. 

Pivetta returned from a right flexor strain on Sept. 7 and recorded a 2.05 ERA down the stretch, including two postseason appearances. The Padres won all six of his starts following his return. Those results don’t erase the elbow concern. But the Friars shouldn’t be willing to toss a proven starter back onto the offseason list they’ll be shopping from.

Nick Pivetta’s dominant return strengthened his case to stay with the Padres

Randy Vásquez is the only established starter guaranteed to return. Joe Musgrove made an encouraging postseason comeback after undergoing elbow surgery, although he still needs to rebuild into a full starter’s workload. Yu Darvish has two years left on his contract, but there’s no indication he’ll even pitch again. Michael King can opt out and become one of the best starters available. Walker Buehler is also headed toward free agency.

According to MLB.com’s breakdown of the Padres’ rotation, King is likely to opt out, while Musgrove and Darvish carry separate availability questions. San Diego may need at least two starters even after accounting for Pivetta. Declining his option would leave the Padres hunting for one more arm in a market where dependable innings don’t come cheap.

Pivetta gave the Padres a 2026 season worth keeping. His return supplied strong innings when the club needed them most, and he showed enough in the postseason to remind everyone why San Diego committed to him in the first place. Two years and $32 million is a reasonable price for that caliber of starter in the current market. The Padres could spend weeks chasing a replacement and wind up paying more for a pitcher they know less about.

There is also a larger organizational reality here. Preller has become remarkably good at rebuilding rotations on the fly. But that talent has also been tested way too often. The medical review remains the deciding checkpoint. If the Padres find a serious concern in Pivetta’s elbow, the conversation changes. 

The Padres still need to figure out what Musgrove can handle, whether Darvish plans to pitch and how aggressively they can pursue King. They need pitchers capable of working near the front of the rotation, and they may need another reliable depth option behind them.

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