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Pirates Are Still Going After Ivan Nova

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Clint Hurdle was on MLB Network Radio this afternoon, and confirmed that the Pirates are still engaged and active in talks with Ivan Nova.

Nova is definitely in a different driver’s seat, as Hurdle describes it, since he’s increased his value and finds himself one of the few starting pitchers on this market who don’t look like a reclamation project. The Pirates tried to bring him back during the regular season with an extension, but he declined. Heading into the off-season, the rumored asking price was five years and $70 M, but there’s no chance he gets that when Rich Hill received $48 M over three years.

Some of the reports during the off-season had Nova getting offers in the J.A. Happ range, which was three years and $36 M. Most of the contract projections had him in the $12 M a year range as well.

The Pirates could afford that amount, and if they end up keeping Andrew McCutchen (which looks more likely right now), then Nova would be a much better addition than Derek Holland, since Nova could be more than just a back of the rotation option.

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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