Phillies gave up on Nick Pivetta in Red Sox trade too soon

The August 2020 trade that sent Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Nick Pivetta and prospect Connor Seabold to the Boston Red Sox for relievers Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman keeps looking worse and worse.

Former Phillies pitcher Nick Pivetta is still undefeated in a Red Sox uniform.

Pivetta tossed six innings in a road Mother’s Day victory against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing only three hits, two runs, and three walks. Doing so, he improved to 5-0 on the season, as well as 7-0 in nine starts since he was traded to the American League East. Over that latter stretch, Pivetta has posted an impressive 2.89 ERA — helping the Red Sox to a 8-1 record in those games.

On April 28, Pivetta notably outdueled perennial Cy Young Award candidate Jacob deGrom, allowing only one hit and three walks through five scoreless innings. The Red Sox went on to defeat the New York Mets, 1-0.

Pivetta recorded a 15.88 ERA and 1.94 WHIP ratio through his last three appearances with the Phillies during the 2020 season. Yet, given his tremendous success with the Red Sox thus far, it feels as though the Phillies gave up on the pitcher — who they acquired from the Washington Nationals for franchises saves leader Jonathan Papelbon — too soon.

Even Seabold is already making strides for the Red Sox, reaching 95 miles per hour on the radar gun with his fastball in a scrimmage last month. He is currently on the injured list with elbow soreness.

The Red Sox recently re-signed Workman to a minor-league deal after the Chicago Cubs parted ways with him earlier this season. It just seems the Red Sox won in all facets of the trade, and now the Phillies have nothing to show for it less than a year after it took place.

The Phillies surely could use a 5-0 Pivetta in their rotation right now, especially with Matt Moore and Chase Anderson not performing up to expectations.