Nick Pivetta, RHP, Boston Red Sox
Here’s a name Phillies fans will recognize. Playing three and a half seasons with the Phillies and being traded to the Red Sox in 2020, Pivetta was one of the more frustrating players to follow. Not because he didn’t perform but because he never consistently found his peak that we only so often caught a glimpse of.
When the righty is cruising, he can be downright mesmerizing, but when there’s a bump in the road, it all falls apart quickly. It has been much of the same story with the Red Sox. He couldn't find his stride as a starter, so he was converted to a relief pitcher, where he found a great rhythm in the middle parts of the 2023 season, pitching to a 2.53 ERA in June and a 1.91 ERA in July over 14 games.
As the season came to a close, the Red Sox asked him to start again, and the ERA increased as the innings built up. This year as a starter he accumulated a 4.66 ERA over 16 starts with a batting average against of .234 and a WHIP of 1.218. However, in 22 appearances out of the bullpen, his ERA was 3.07 with the batting average against dropping to .166 and a WHIP of 0.970.
But Pivetta’s willingness to be used out of the bullpen can be something of value to the Phillies. The Phillies always value bullpen depth, especially guys who are versatile and have the ability to go multiple innings and can also be starting depth if someone on the rotation goes down. A reunion between the Phillies and Pivetta could be just what the doctor ordered for both.