The San Diego Padres are in a weird position right now.
We still don’t know what’s going to happen with the ownership of the team and how the team’s finances are looking this offseason, but the possibility of the sale has sparked rumors and trade talks.
Reports suggest that the Padres are listening to offers on right-hander Nick Pivetta, who had an incredible season anchoring San Diego’s starting rotation in 2025.
Pivetta made 31 starts and went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 181.2 innings pitched. He struck out 190 batters and walked 50, good for a near career-high 3.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
It was easily the best season of Pivetta’s career and it came at a time when the Padres needed a consistent, healthy option to start every fifth day.
However, given this was his best season over his nine-year career, the Padres are open to trading him at his highest value, both performance-wise and salary-wise.
His AAV (average annual value) jumps up $18 million for the 2026 season and the Padres may need that money to acquire more assets and depth, though the starting rotation is depleted as is. Pivetta has an opt-out in his contract for the 2027 season and could exercise it if the Padres don’t have success this season.
After finishing sixth in National League Cy Young voting, now would be the time to move him for the best package.
“Though he was not listed as a trade candidate in our rankings, recent reports have the Padres listening to offers for Pivetta, who is coming off an outstanding season in which he went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 181⅔ innings to finish sixth in the NL Cy Young voting,” ESPN’s David Schoenfield wrote Tuesday. “His salary jumps up to $20.5 million for 2026 after a low base number in 2025, but he has an opt-out clause, making this a likely one-year move.”
The Chicago Cubs are the best fit for Pivetta and have the assets to make a trade worthwhile for San Diego.
“For the Cubs, the postseason showed that relying on Imanaga and Matthew Boyd -- two homer-prone left-handers -- isn't the way to win in October. Adding a right-hander with swing-and-miss stuff to go alongside Cade Horton is a better way to lead a playoff rotation. Ballesteros and Caissie figure prominently into the Cubs' 2026 plans, and though Chicago probably wouldn't give up either for one year of Pivetta, the Cubs have depth in the organization and some marginal back-end pitchers, such as Ben Brown or Jordan Wicks, to throw in a trade. Alcantara could be of interest as well to fill an outfield hole for the Padres.”
The Cubs have a deep farm system and are in position to make a huge splash in free agency or the trade market. If the Padres decide to move Pivetta, expect the Cubs to be huge players in his sweepstakes.