The San Diego Padres bought into the arms race in the National League West by signing right-hander Nick Pivetta to a four-year deal and adding free agent Kyle Hart.

Even though the Padres have signed a pair of pitchers in recent days, Dylan Cease may not yet be on the way out of San Diego.

Nick Pivetta became the last of the high-profile free agent pitchers to reach an agreement this offseason, a backloaded four-year, $55 million contract with the San Diego Padres, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.