Red Sox Starter Reportedly Makes Massive Contract Decision At Deadline

The Boston Red Sox put a significant decision in Nick Pivetta’s lap to begin a consequential offseason for both the franchise and the right-handed pitcher.

Boston extended the qualifying offer, which sits at one year for $21.05 million this, to Pivetta following the World Series. The deadline for that decision came Tuesday and the starting pitcher elected to decline the offer and head to free agency, per MassLive Chris Cotillo and The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

That leaves the Red Sox with roughly $60 million to spend this winter before reaching the first luxury tax threshold, though the ambitious narrative about Boston’s intentions for player additions this offseason may exceed that mark.

The Red Sox also are entitled to draft compensation if Pivetta signs elsewhere. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow showed anticipation of the pitching market through the decision to extend the qualifying offer to Pivetta.

Boston now moves forward this offseason with another key decision to make for the starting rotation.