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Padres' Nick Pivetta is running out of time to earn $32 million contract originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The San Diego Padres are having a bit of a rough 2026 season, going 48-50 coming out of the All-Star break, 14 games back in the NL West, and 3.5 games back in the NL Wild Card hunt.
Part of why this season hasn't gone to plan is that the Padres have been without Nick Pivetta for much of the season.
The veteran right-hander was meant to be a key part of the rotation, but he's pitched just four games this season.
Pivetta's absence isn't just hurting the Padres, but also himself.
As USA Today's Bob Nightengale highlighted, Pivetta is running out of time to earn his $32 million contract over the next two seasons, as he's a month from an opt-out coming into play.
Nick Pivetta running out of time to earn $32M contract "San Diego Padres veteran starter Nick Pivetta, who has been out since the fourth start of the season, must return by Aug.
22 to avoid the Padres from having the option to trigger an opt-out clause in his contract," Nightengale writes.
"If he's not back by that day, which is 130 days from going on the IL, the Padres can void the last two years and $32 million of his contract." The 33-year-old right-hander is currently on the injured list and has been out since 12th of April, which was just his fourth start of the season.
He's been out for a while, and now, if he's still on the injured list through August 22, which is roughly one month away now, he could lose out on $32 million.
For a Padres team that is struggling with funds due to the massive contracts handed out to their top players, being able to get out of the final $32 million of Pivetta's deal would be a huge deal for the franchise.
MORE : Mason Miller shares honest thoughts on Yankees trade rumors Of course, the Padres could elect to keep Pivetta, but it would make a lot more sense to use their opt-out and use the saved money to bring him in on a one-year prove-it deal or add other players over the offseason.
But, regardless of what decision the Padres make, Pivetta could make this debate a moot point by returning by August 22.
That date is a huge one for the Padres, as that's Pivetta's deadline to return to the MLB rotation before his $32 million contract can be avoided through an opt-out clause.
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