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Pirates Acquire Ivan Nova From the Yankees

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The Pirates continue looking for a starting pitcher, and the rumors are picking up as the deadline approaches. They have been linked to Matt Moore and other Rays starters. Ken Rosenthal reports that they’re also talking with the Yankees about Ivan Nova.

The Rays starters are under control beyond 2016, while Nova would just be a rental. He’s not having a good season, with a 4.90 ERA in 97.1 IP, although his 4.06 xFIP suggests he should be better. He fits the typical Pirates’ reclamation project, with a 54.3% ground ball rate, the ability to get some strikeouts, and a low walk rate. His big issue this year is a high 21.3% HR/FB rate, which is also an issue that many Pirates starters this year have dealt with.

Nova is only a rental, so he might be cheaper than someone like Moore. There’s also the chance the Pirates could pull a J.A. Happ here, immediately turning around a guy who is only a two month rental. Nova is owed the remainder of his $4.1 M salary.

UPDATE 3:59 PM: The Pirates have acquired Nova.

UPDATE 4:16 PM: It looks like we might not find out about the return in this trade for a bit, as Jonathan Mayo says the deal is for players to be named later.

UPDATE 4:47 PM: The Pirates have officially announced the move, saying that the Yankees will get two players to be named later. That means it won’t be anyone on the 40-man roster.

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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