The Boston Red Sox recently agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent pitcher Walker Buehler. Buehler heads to Boston to complete the Red Sox rotation in style, which is bad news for one former Red Sox pitcher. Nick Pivetta was given a qualifying offer from the Red Sox a few weeks ago, but he declined it. Now it seems like his time in Boston is over.

Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report recently called Pivetta one of the more underrated pitchers in free agency. Rymer predicted the righty would sign a three-year, $45 million deal with the San Francisco Giants this winter. “He’s fanned 30 percent of the batters he’s faced over the last two seasons, placing him just below AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal among pitchers with at least 280 innings,” Rymer wrote. “And according to Stuff+, the quality of Pivetta’s pitches in 2024 was the best among all starters.

“As he’s surrendered 1.5 home runs per nine innings for his career, the long ball has been a consistent problem for Pivetta. But provided a team has a big enough home ballpark, that issue is that much easier to ignore in deference to the good stuff.”

The Giants are the top team in the Corbin Burnes sweepstakes right now, so it would be a bit peculiar if San Francisco pursues Pivetta and Burnes. Instead, Pivetta could be a decent backup option if the Giants miss out on the ace of free agency.