Clint Hurdle was on MLB Network Radio this afternoon, and confirmed that the Pirates are still engaged and active in talks with Ivan Nova.
Clint Hurdle on Ivan Nova: "We're definitely engaged. We loved him." #Pirates #MLB @MLBNetworkRadio
— Casey Stern (@CaseyStern) December 7, 2016
The #Pirates are in on Nova but "his agent and the player are in a different driver seat than he's used to." They want him back. #MLB
— Casey Stern (@CaseyStern) December 7, 2016
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.