Nick Pivetta’s chances of returning to Boston just increased significantly.
With news that the Red Sox have made the right-handed starter one of 13 free agents in baseball to receive the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer, the future of a pitcher most thought would be gone has become more intriguing.
Teams always put (and pay) a premium on starting pitching in the offseason, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team exceed that $21.05 million figure for Pivetta. Much of that will be determined by who signs before him, and for what.
Pivetta is certainly a pitcher who earned a spot in a major league starting rotation. Nevertheless, he’s not someone who is going to set the market and likely won’t be at the top of most teams’ wish lists.
If everything were equal, I don’t think Pivetta is a $20 million pitcher. But that’s not the way sports works. Given all of the contributing factors, that $20 million figure is probably about right for Pivetta’s value in today’s game…
Which is probably why the Sox apparently didn’t hesitate much to give him at least that.
If I had to guess? While, as mentioned, it wouldn’t be shocking to see some team overpay Pivetta after missing out on another free agent, I can’t imagine he’s many front office’s vision for an ideal, complete starter.
With that being the case, I believe the most likely outcome now is that Pivetta will be returning for a sixth season with Boston. I’ve made my feelings known on the pitcher. He’s far from the worst option, but as I’ve written, I think that money could have been better spent elsewhere…
Ref returns
Pivetta isn’t the only member of the 2024 roster who is (likely to be) returning…
Rob Refsnyder will be back in the mix next season after the Sox announced they have picked up his $2 million club option.
The return of the journeyman utility outfielder should be a welcomed one. Refsnyder has plenty to offer. He’s a good contact hitter who’s shown a little knack for clutch hitting, he’s a dependable defender and he’s a leader in the clubhouse.
I have no problem with the team bringing back Refsnyder… I just want to see a little less of him next season. For years, the Sox’s biggest problem has been that they’ve had a handful of decent to good players… just not a lot of great ones.
Rob Refsnyder is not a player who should be starting and seeing the field with regularity. Used in a pinch in a utility role? He’s an excellent fit.
If the plan is to retain Ref in that role, then this is a savvy move. But if the plan is to have him play near or over 100 games while batting third in the lineup (as he did on too many occasions last season), then I can’t say I’m a fan…
Abreu gets gold
Wilyer Abreu has put himself in some exclusive company.
With his first career Gold Glove win in right field, the 25-year-old outfielder became the first Red Sox rookie to bring home the honor since a young center fielder named Fred Lynn did so in 1975.
And Lynn has taken notice.
“I’m just so proud of what he’s accomplished in such a short time,” Lynn told MLB.com about Abreu’s gold glove win. “From when I saw him in Spring Training last year, he’s grown since then. He is so strong. He’s really got a good feel for the outfield. He’s kind of a natural out there.”
That’s certainly high praise from one of the greatest outfielders in franchise history, who has worked with Abreu as an outfield instructor during spring training.
The Gold Glove win is a true win-win for the Red Sox. On one hand, it’s validation of a young up-and-coming outfielder who could be a cornerstone of the team’s lineup for years to come. On the other, if the Sox do decide to part ways with Abreu to clear the outfield and left-handed hitting logjam, it helps to increase his trade value.
If I’m Craig Breslow, I’m keeping Abreu in the fold. His age, upward offensive trends and now solid defensive reputation make him a good fit in the corner outfield. Abreu went from two homers to 15 from 2023 to 2024. His batting average dipped last season, but it seems reasonable to think that Abreu could be something of a .270 and 20-homer hitter.
That’s worth keeping around in my book…
Slugging for silver
For a team that finished .500 and missed the playoffs, the Sox sure are doing well in the season awards department…
Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran are the latest Sox with a chance at bringing home some hardware after being named Silver Slugger finalists.
For Devers, it would be his third time winning the award after notching 67 extra-base hits and posting an .870 OPS in 2024. Jose Ramirez and Alex Bregman are the other finalists at third in the American League.
Duran’s breakout year puts him in contention with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Riley Greene and Anthony Santander in the outfielder category.
Unlike Devers who is a perennial contender for awards like these, Duran’s is certainly not a name you would have expected to see on this list at the beginning of the season. Yet the man who led the majors in doubles and triples is entirely deserving.
As with Abreu, winning an award like this would help on multiple fronts for Duran considering that he could be a candidate to be traded this offseason.
Having to decide between trading a Gold Glover Abreu and a Silver Slugger Duran is not an enviable position. Perhaps Breslow will throw us a curveball and flip someone else instead…