The New York Yankees traded Ivan Nova to the Pittsburgh
Pirates for a pair of prospects last summer before the right-hander could hit
free agency this winter. With the Yankees starting rotation more of a question
mark than ever many wondered if the Yankees would have gone after Nova after
trading him much like they did with Aroldis Chapman in hopes of tightening up
the rotation while taking some innings off the Yankees bullpen but those hopes
and dreams went by the wayside over the weekend as Nova signed a three-year
deal with the Pirates to remain in Pittsburgh. The deal was worth $26 million,
here are my thoughts on the matter.
In this market, a market that is starved for even inning
eating pitchers let alone ace type starting pitchers, as thin as it is for
starting pitchers and top-tiered free agents in general you would think Nova
would have gotten more than a shade over $8 million annually, no? Maybe that’s
just me but even at the back-end of the Yankees rotation an $8 million pitcher
who could give you six innings or more every fifth day is a bargain. In
Pittsburgh he’s a steal, especially if he pitches for them like he did after
the trade in August.
Nova finished his 2016 season on a 5-2 run in 11 starts with
Pittsburgh including a 3.06 ERA and a strong 3-1 record and 2.45 ERA at home
inside PNC Park. This was a huge improvement over his 7-6 record and 4.90 ERA
with the Yankees in 15 starts last season. Now honestly I don’t expect Nova to
be a sub-three ERA type pitcher no matter where he pitches but his control was
pinpoint and he finally looked healthy again while pitching in Pittsburgh.
There’s something about pitching with a chip on his shoulder that seems to
motivate Nova and he looked awfully chippy and awfully motivated last season in
Pittsburgh, something the Yankees could have and should have taken full
advantage of.
Now maybe I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth here and
maybe Nova simply wanted to stay in Pittsburgh while giving them a discount.
Maybe not. Even at $10 million a year I find Nova to be a bargain for any team,
even at the back-end of the starting rotation. The Yankees missed the boat here
in my opinion, especially on a three-year deal or less. This won’t be a move
that we look back at this time next year and think “man the Yankees would have
won the World Series if they made this move” but if they had Nova in their
rotation he may have been the difference maker between sitting at home next
October and at least winning a Wild Card. And before you flip out at that
statement please remember how close they were to winning the Wild Card last
year, that’s not the bold statement many people will probably take it as.
The only boat the Yankees missed on Nova was the Titanic. Nova is terrible and it was time he went and stayed in the JV league where he belongs
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