It has been nothing short of a standout year for starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, who has consistently looked like the anchor of a starting rotation that has been injury-plagued all season long. To say he has kept the team afloat in the playoff race is an understatement, as a Pivetta start has almost always been a “win day” for the Padres.
While Pivetta has been one of the league’s best, what if we told you that he is only due $2 million for this season—$11 million less than his market value? He’s been so good that MLB analyst Thomas Harrigan put him at third overall when ranking the best offseason acquisitions of 2025, placing him only below the Garrett Crochet and Juan Soto moves.