In search of more starting pitching, the Mets were set to meet with free agent right-hander Nick Pivetta‘s agents on Wednesday, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
Pivetta, who will be entering his age-32 season in 2025, had a solid 2024 for the Red Sox, with a 4.14 ERA (4.07 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 172 strikeouts in 145.2 innings — a rate of 10.6 strikeouts per nine.
After struggling with the Phillies for the first three-plus seasons of his career, Pivetta has found some consistency in Boston — where he’s been since the end of the 2020 season.
With Boston, Pivetta had a 4.29 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP over 633.0 innings while striking out 10.2 batters per nine. One downside has been his propensity for allowing home runs, with him giving up at least 1.4 homers per nine over the last four seasons.
While Pivetta’s stats don’t jump off the page, he has a high ceiling — as evidenced by his ability to miss bats at a high clip. He is also well above average when it comes to limiting walks.
Pivetta’s strikeout rate was in the 88th percentile in 2024, via Baseball Savant, while his walk rate was in the 80th percentile. He was also well above average when it came to xERA, xBA, chase percentage, and extension.
He features primarily a four-seam fastball, sweeper, and curve, and also mixes in a cutter and slider.
If the Mets sign Pivetta, who declined Boston’s qualifying offer, they will be subject to additional draft pick penalties after already incurring some while signing Juan Soto (who declined the Yankees’ qualifying offer).
In addition to Pivetta, the Mets have been exploring a potential reunion with Sean Manaea and have interest in Walker Buehler, as reported by SNY’s Andy Martino.
On the trade front, the Mets have had talks with the White Sox regarding a deal for Garrett Crochet, per Martino.
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