It is hard to get excited about Nick Pivetta by looking at his numbers, but the Boston Red Sox may have a bargain on their hands.
The Boston Red Sox fire sale has officially begun, with Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree being sent to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. In exchange, the Red Sox received prospect Connor Seabold and Nick Pivetta.
At first glance, that return is particularly underwhelming. Seabold is ranked as the Phillies’ 23rd best prospect on MLB.com, a pitcher who does not have a particularly great pitch of elite command, but could be a back of the rotation arm. Maybe there is something there, maybe not.
However, it is Pivetta that is the most intriguing player in this deal, even if he may be considered the worst player in the trade. His career numbers certainly do not stand out, as he has posted a 19-30 record with a 5.50 ERA and a 1.433 WHiP, but there is more to Pivetta than that.
Pivetta has actually been better than those numbers indicate. In his 396.1 innings, he has struck out 421 batters with just 148 walks for a solid 2.84 K/BB rate. His 4.64 FIP also indicates that he should have better overall numbers, as his ERA is 0.86 runs worse than what should be expected.
But that is not the only reason why Pivetta could be a steal. His fastball and curve both have impressive movement, ranking in the top 10% of the league. The curve, in particular, could become a devastating weapon, as it had the fifth highest average spin rate in the game last year.
With his fastball/curve combination and his impressive command, it is entirely possible that Pivetta could become a dominant reliever for the Red Sox. Boston is hurting for relievers, especially after dealing away Workman and Hembree, so there are plenty of opportunities available. Pivetta could get his chance to stake a claim to a late inning role.
Nick Pivetta has the stuff to be a surprise for the Boston Red Sox. This change of scenery may unlock his potential.