Red Sox qualifying offer deadline: Nick Pivetta and potential targets

The Boston Red Sox issued a surprise qualifying offer to Nick Pivetta just before the Nov. 4 deadline. Many fans expected the club to extend the offer to slugging outfielder Tyler O’Neill, with whom the Sox have expressed interest in a reunion.

The qualifying offer is a one-year deal that every team can extend to an impending free agent to keep them in their former uniform for an additional season, provided the free agent has never accepted a qualifying offer before. The qualifying offer salary is the mean of the 125 highest-paid players in the league that year, which makes the 2025 figure a staggering $21.05 million.

Players have until a preset deadline to accept or decline the qualifying offer from their respective teams. This offseason’s deadline is Nov. 19. If a player declines the qualifying offer, the team that extended it is given a compensatory pick in the coming MLB Draft.

MLB insider Jeff Passan, among many other reporters and experts, predicts Pivetta will decline the qualifying offer from the Red Sox. The righty has a surprisingly deep market and may be able to secure a long-term deal elsewhere. However, he did express interest in another deal with Boston shortly after the 2024 slate concluded.

Here’s a list of qualifying offer recipients the Red Sox should keep an eye on

A few potential Red Sox free agent candidates also received qualifying offers from their 2024 clubs. Here’s a list of recipients the Sox should keep an eye on. The Red Sox have been linked to most of the listed players in some capacity, either in rumors, speculation or actual contact between the two parties.

Willy Adames (SS)
Alex Bregman (3B)
Juan Soto (OF)
Teoscar Hernández (OF)
Anthony Santander (OF)
Corbin Burnes (RHP)
Max Fried (LHP)
Sean Manaea (LHP)
Nick Martinez (RHP) — accepted offer from Cincinnati Reds
Luis Severino (RHP)

Boston has been named as a potential destination for Adames and Bregman, two righty infielders who could help it shore up its defense and diversify the batting order. If the Red Sox signed either infielder, a lot of roster shuffling would be required. Trevor Story is an option as Boston’s everyday shortstop — provided he can stay healthy — but it also has multiple young players and prospects who could fill the slot in the coming years. The Sox also have an everyday third baseman in Rafael Devers and a first baseman of the future in Triston Casas, so the Bregman speculations also don’t make a ton of sense.

The Red Sox’s links to Soto are well established, and they’ve emerged as a real contender for his services, but he’s sure to be pricey. Hernández and Santander are solid backup options as suppliers of right-handed power. They mashed 33 and 44 homers in 2024, respectively, career-highs for both outfielders.

Boston has also been vocal about its need for pitching reinforcements, specifically top-tier additions. Burnes and Fried are possibly the two best pitchers available this winter, so the Red Sox will have come competition when courting the aces. Signing an ace should absolutely be Boston’s top priority this offseason, and even if it acquires Burnes or Fried, Manaea, Martinez and Severino would all be solid later-rotation additions to its pitching staff. They could even fill Pivetta’s former role if he declines his qualifying offer from the Sox.