PEORIA, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 17: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres works out on the field during the spring training workout at the Peoria Sports Complex on February 17, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
Monday was the first full-squad workout of 2025 Spring Training for the San Diego Padres. As manager Mike Shildt can attest, this is the day the season truly begins.
"We talk about all winter, you know, when pitchers and catchers report, and the first day of them is really exciting. But, now we got all the dudes here," Shildt said. "We got everybody in full camp, and we're excited to finish some business."
That unfinished business is going beyond the National League Division Series (if they can knock the Dodgers off in the process, all the better).
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
The big news from Monday was Nick Pivetta officially signing his four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres. Pivetta comes over from Boston after a successful four-year stretch with the Red Sox. He gave some pretty compelling reasons why he wanted to join this particular rotation, which now — with Dylan Cease, Michael King, Yu Darvish, and Pivetta in line — looks awfully deep.
"I think for me, winning is 100% the most important thing," Pivetta said. "That's all I really care about, all I want to do, and with the way that this team finished and what they did last year, it's really important for me to be able to come here and try to contribute to that and continue to follow this team in the direction that they're going in."
Over the last two years, Pivetta has struck out 30% of the batters he's faced — the fifth highest punch-out rate in the league over that time (minimum 250 innings pitched). There are underlying baseball metrics that suggest a move from Fenway Park, which skews towards offense, to the more pitcher-friendly Petco Park will make his overall effectiveness even better.
Local
Pivetta says he has other things to worry about than ballpark factors.
"I never really put too much thought into what the baseball park is because I've still got to throw strikes and get guys out," Pivetta said. "But, I'm very excited for the atmosphere. I'm really excited for the fan base. And, you know, a little more outfield room can't hurt nobody."
