Red Sox’s Craig Breslow Addresses Idea Of This Pitcher Reunion

The Red Sox don’t necessarily need another starting pitcher, but with a familiar face still on the market, it could entertain the idea.

Nick Pivetta remained a free agent as teams prepare for spring training this week. The 31-year-old declined Boston’s qualifying offer, which would have earned him a one-deal worth a little over $21 million. Instead, Pivetta had been “in contact” with multiple teams, including the Red Sox, but does not seem close to a new contract.

It’s never bad to have extra pitchers for the grind of a 162-game season, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow on Tuesday addressed the idea of a reunion with Pivetta.

“So obviously gonna avoid specifics here, but given where we are and like I said, the importance we’ve placed on winning in 2025, we’re going to make moves in line with that,” Breslow told reporters at Fort Myers, Fla., as seen on NESN. “I think here’s a time where the needle is pointed more toward building for the future. Often, my role is to balance both of those things, but there’s no question we’re more calibrated toward winning in 2025 than we have been in the past.”

Breslow can’t specifically talk about certain players, but the chief baseball officer noted that he and his staff are focused on pursuing a right-handed hitter and a reliever. The Red Sox seem willing to test out a six-man rotation, and another pitcher like Pivetta could be an option if there is mutual interest in a return.