Why Did The Red Sox Extend The Qualifying Offer To Nick Pivetta?

Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty ImagesThere’s a lot of confusion about the fact that, last night, the Red Sox offered Nick Pivetta the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer for 2025. That confusion is understandable given that, frankly, it doesn’t seem that the Red Sox actually want Nick Pivetta on the team all that much.

In his four full seasons with the Sox, Pivetta has produced a 102 ERA+ in 129 total games (105 as a starter), which means he has been two percent better than a league average pitcher. And while he tantalizes with big strikeout numbers, flashy underlying metrics, the occasional seven-inning shutout, and extended stretches in which he appears to be one of…