Nick Pivetta Hits Free Agency as the Padres Decline His Option, and KBO Slugger Si-Hwan Roh Is Posted: Two Names to Track as the Market Opens

Two moves over the weekend added interesting names to a free-agent market that opens for business on Monday. The San Diego Padres declined their $14 million club option on right-hander Nick Pivetta, making him a free agent after an injury-shortened 2026 season, and the KBO's Hanwha Eagles asked the league to post third baseman Si-Hwan Roh, a power bat who could draw interest from several MLB clubs.

Both are fantasy names to track for 2027 drafts. Pivetta was a top-10 Cy Young finisher in 2025, and Roh is coming off a 29-homer season in Korea. Free agency officially opens at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, when players can sign with any team, and the clock is short: the collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, and a lockout would freeze the market.

Why the Padres let Pivetta go

The decline was more technical than it looks. Pivetta's original contract gave him a guaranteed 2027 salary, but it converted to a team option after he spent more than 130 days on the injured list with an elbow injury. He left an April 12 start against the Rockies with the injury and did not return to the Padres' rotation until September 7.

When he came back, he looked like himself. Pivetta posted a 1.45 ERA over four September starts, covering 18 2/3 innings. That followed a 2025 season in which he made 31 starts with a 2.87 ERA and finished sixth in National League Cy Young voting. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Padres still have concerns about his elbow, but that they could re-sign him to a new deal with a lower salary or different structure. The Padres also declined options on Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning, according to ESPN.

Pivetta's fantasy outlook

Pivetta's 2027 value depends on two things: where he signs and how teams view the elbow. A full, healthy September is encouraging, and a pitcher with his 2025 track record would normally be a mid-rotation fantasy starter. But any team signing him will weigh the injury, and his contract terms will tell fantasy managers a lot. A multiyear deal would signal confidence; a short, incentive-laden deal would suggest the medical reviews raised questions.

In early drafts, expect Pivetta to go well behind the top tier of starters, which could make him a value. The best landing spot for fantasy would be a pitcher-friendly park with a strong defense, which is one reason a return to San Diego on new terms would be the most comfortable outcome for his fantasy managers.

Who is Si-Hwan Roh?

Roh, the third overall pick in the 2018 KBO draft by the Eagles, is one of the most productive power hitters in Korea. In 2026 he hit .283 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .505 slugging percentage, adding 29 home runs, 96 RBI and 51 walks. Since 2023, he ranks second in the KBO with 116 home runs and 387 RBI.

The concern is contact. Roh struck out 147 times in 2026 and has topped 100 strikeouts in each of the last four seasons, and KBO strikeout rates usually rise against MLB pitching. A scout quoted by MLB.com described him as a big power bat at third base but a little weak defensively. Roh also signed an 11-year contract worth 30.7 billion won (about $23 million) with Hanwha before 2026, the longest and most lucrative deal in KBO history, which he would return to if he does not sign in MLB.

Once MLB formally posts him, teams have a 30-day window to negotiate. MLB.com has listed the Cardinals, Yankees, Mariners and Angels among potential fits.

Roh's fantasy outlook

KBO-to-MLB hitters are among the hardest players to project. Power tends to translate better than batting average, and Roh's profile, power with a high strikeout rate, suggests a player who could hit for power with a low average if he wins a full-time job. In fantasy, that is a corner-infield or bench option in 15-team leagues and a watch-list name in shallower formats until his team and role are clear. Defensive questions also matter: if a team views him as a designated hitter rather than a third baseman, his playing time could depend on matchups.

The Verdexed angle

The offseason is when fantasy value is created through information. Pivetta and Roh are both players whose 2027 draft prices will be set by headlines in the next few weeks: Pivetta by his contract and the medical reports, Roh by where he lands and how his new team describes his role. Verdexed's MLB coverage will track the moves as they happen, and our game-level predictions return to the MLB predictions page when the 2027 season begins.

What's next

With the CBA set to expire December 1, agents and teams have an incentive to move quickly. Tarik Skubal is the top name on the market and is expected to command one of the largest deals of the winter, and the rest of the market often waits on the biggest signings. Pivetta and Roh are second-tier names, but in a class that is not especially deep, both could sign before the lockout deadline. Fantasy managers in keeper and dynasty leagues should note both now, before the landing spots set their prices.