The New York Yankees have been dangling anyone and everyone
currently in the organization out on the trade wire this offseason and the
team’s GM Brian Cashman has received a few nibbles. You know the names of the
men who have been traded thus far so I won’t list them again but three names in
particular that Cashman named specifically still remain in pinstripes. Those
names are Brett Gardner, Andrew Miller and Ivan Nova. I can understand why some
teams may be weary of a 32-year old outfielder who is becoming more and more
oft-injured than ever and I can understand teams not wanting to pay the price
the Yankees are asking for the reigning Mariano Rivera Award winner but I am
pretty baffled why no one has taken the bait yet on Ivan Nova.
Nova turns just 29-years old next month and is under team
control on a team friendly deal through the 2015 season. Nova is expected to
command about $4.5 million through arbitration according to MLB Trade Rumors,
who are generally spot on with their predictions, before hitting free agency
and yet no teams have even been linked to the right-hander. Why? Nova was
woeful in 2015 but this was his first year removed from Tommy John surgery.
Nova had suspect command at times with the Yankees before his Tommy John
surgery and they say with the surgery one of the last things to come back is
command, well command and velocity, so it’s unclear whether this season can be
chalked up to growing pains and a blip on the radar or a sign for the future.
This isn’t the first time New York has dangled Nova out
there either, the team also made him available before the July 31st
trading deadline and his name was linked to the Cincinnati Reds in a potential
Johnny Cueto deal. We all know how that story ends, Nova stayed with the
Yankees and Cueto won a ring with the Kansas City Royals, but it’s still
puzzling to see why no other teams have shown any interest since.
Nova started the season in late June and finished with a
6-11 record and a 5.07 ERA in 17 starts including a stretch where he finished
the season with four straight losses and a 7.20 ERA. Whether he gets traded or not
remains to be seen but judging by the interested other teams have in him and
judging by the available free agents still left on the board it’s looking less
and less likely every single day.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)