The World Series will be over by this time next week, and so it begins MLB off season. Once the finals are made, teams have five days to make a number of roster decisions, including whether to offer qualifying offers to players who will be free agents.

The Red Sox realistically, they have two candidates for the one-year, $21.05 million contract – Nick Pivetta and Tyler O’Neill.

Among their other free agents, reliever Chris Martin he’s eligible, but probably not worth that contract. Closer Kenley Jansen ineligible because he was previously offered one and the three players were traded at the deadline – relievers Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims and the catch Danny Jansen — are also ineligible because they were traded during the season.

One thing to keep in mind: If the Red Sox extend a QO to any player and the player declines and signs elsewhere, the Red Sox would receive an additional draft pick after the second round in 2025.

Another note: The five-day window before free agency opens is also an exclusive negotiation period with the team and its free agents. The Red Sox could choose not to extend QOs to Pivetta or O’Neill and instead work longer deals for either. Both players have expressed interest in returning to Boston, but it appears they would first like to see what offers are available on the open market.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of giving Pivetta and O’Neill one-year deals.

Nick Pivetta, RHP

Pivetta will turn 32 in February and has been a durable piece of the rotation since the Red Sox traded him at the 2020 deadline for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree. It marked one of former Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom’s most successful trades, as Pivetta posted a 4.29 ERA in 131 games, 107 starts, with a 27 percent strikeout rate while with Boston.

After bouncing between the rotation and bullpen last season, Pivetta solidified his position in the rotation this year and had his best season as a starter, posting a 4.14 ERA with a 28.9 percent strikeout rate of hits in 27 games, 26 starts.

NICK PIVETTA WITH 8TH STRAIGHT STRIKEOUT!

TIES ROGER CLEMENS FOR THE FRANCHISE RECORD! pic.twitter.com/LV4yyy23DX

— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) May 30, 2024

Why the Red Sox should give him QO

On the open market, Pivetta is likely to land a two- or three-year deal in the $30-45 million range. Given the Red Sox’s need for starting pitching depth, keeping a familiar, durable pitcher who knows how to handle Boston’s market on a one-year deal could be a smart move. If Pivetta were to reject the deal in hopes of finding a longer-term deal elsewhere, the Red Sox could pick up a draft pick.

Why the Red Sox should NOT give him the QO

The Red Sox need to prioritize a top starter, not to mention a right-handed bat and bullpen help. They could find some of those pieces through trade, but giving $21 million of their payroll to Pivetta significantly reduces the roughly $60 million they have to spend this winter before hitting the first luxury tax threshold level of $241 million.

Tyler O’Neill, OF

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was traded to O’Neill last winter shortly after Alex Verdugo the trade and acquisition of O’Neill was one of his wisest transactions. The Red Sox sent pitchers from the minor leagues Victor Santos and Nick Robertson at St. Louis in business. At the time, O’Neill was a leading “change of scenery” candidate for cardinaldealing with injuries and inconsistencies during his time with St. Louis.

In Boston, O’Neill, who turns 30 in June, showed the type of player he can be, hitting .241 with an .847 OPS and a team-leading 31 homers in just 113 games. He hit a career-high 34 homers in 2021, but did so in 138 games. He still battled injuries in Boston, including a concussion early in the season and a foot infection late in the year, and his strikeout rate was way too high at 33.6 percent. But he also gave the club a right-handed bat and the pulling power they needed.

Tyler O’Neill sends one #walkoff HR far above the Monster! pic.twitter.com/nRtMZdBOo1

— MLB (@MLB) September 12, 2024

Why the Red Sox should give him QO

The Red Sox are in dire need of more right-handed power. Signing O’Neill to a one-year deal would bolster the offense but keep the door open down the road for prospects and other young players in the system. Sign another free agent outfielder as Teoscar Hernandez it would likely require a multi-year deal and could lead to gridlock in the field.

O’Neill made $5.85 million in his final year of arbitration last year, so the QO deal would be a significant increase, but he could look to take advantage of a solid year by seeking a longer deal. The one from Athletic Jim Bowden suggests O’Neill could earn a two-year, $32 million deal on the open market. If that is the case and the Red Sox offered QO, they would pick up an additional draft pick if he signs elsewhere.

Why the Red Sox should NOT give him the QO

O’Neill fueled the offense through extended periods, but he also had huge stretches where the strikeouts piled up. Meanwhile, he missed 49 games. His defense hasn’t matched the Gold Gloves he won in 2020 and 2021. He posted a minus-4 Outs Above Average this year. The Red Sox could look for right-handed power at another position with an already crowded outfield Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaelaand Roman Anthony and utilitarian Christian Campbell on the horizon While O’Neill has provided a spark to the lineup multiple times, the Red Sox could use that money to find a better fit elsewhere.

(Top photo illustration by Tyler O’Neill and Nick Pivetta/David Butler II/Imagn Images)