It's increasingly likely that both O'Neill and Pivetta will have new homes in 2025.
It appears more likely than ever that both Nick Pivetta and Tyler O’Neill will take their talents to new teams in 2025.
MassLive’s Sean McAdam reported Friday that both the starting pitcher and outfielder are “long shots” to receive qualifying offers from the Red Sox prior to the free agency window opening.
The qualifying offer is a one-year deal MLB teams can extend to their top free agents that helps retain them easier; if a player with a qualifying offer signs with another team, the player’s previous club will receive draft compensation.
It’s still possible that Boston could re-sign either or both Pivetta and O’Neill without a qualifying offer on the table, but the team will have less leverage in negotiations.
The writing has been on the wall for some time that at least Pivetta would be done with the Red Sox at the conclusion of 2024. He tipped his cap to the home crowd after his last start at Fenway Park in September.
O’Neill showed plenty of public interest in a return to Boston next season, stating in an interview with NESN that he’s built great relationships in the clubhouse. Boston expressed some mutual interest in O’Neill, and a need for a reliable righty bat in the lineup would suggest a re-signing would be a good fit.
However, given the interest O’Neill will likely draw on the open market, it seems if Boston wanted to lock in the outfielder for at least another season, a qualifying offer would be the best way to achieve that.
O’Neill only played one season for Boston, but made his mark on the lineup. He led the Red Sox in home runs (31), and was fourth on the team in RBI (61).
Pivetta played four seasons with the Red Sox, plus a pair of games in the shortened COVID-19 season in 2020 after coming over to Boston from the Phillies. The 2024 season showcased his lowest ERA as a full-time starter with the Red Sox (4.14). Pivetta’s ERA in 2023 was slightly lower (4.04), but he split time between starting and coming out of the bullpen in that season.
Pivetta is expected to draw interest in free agency as a mid-level starter, given his pitch arsenal and his ability to go deep into his starts.
