Options to Replace Ivan Nova in the Yankees Rotation

With an unsightly 6.88 ERA in his last six starts, New York Yankees starter Ivan Nova has been the weak link in the team’s rotation this month. Luckily, the club has several attractive in-house options to replace him.

After being rocked for five earned runs in back-to-back starts by the middling Colorado Rockies, Ivan Nova’s spot in the New York Yankees rotation may be in jeopardy. Nova’s ERA on the season has jumped above five after getting hammered for 19 runs in 21.1 innings this month. The 29-year-old righty starter has always been frustratingly inconsistent during his decade in the Yankees system, and with his impending free agency after the season, New York may be better served looking for a more long-term solution. Here’s a look at a few possibilities:

Chad Green– The 25-year-old Green was acquired from the Tigers in the Justin Wilson swap this winter. While his first MLB start against Arizona back in May wasn’t particularly pretty (4 IP, 4 ER, 8 H), he has dominated the International League in his first 12 starts, with a 1.83 ERA and 2.38 FIP while striking out 24.6% of the batters he’s faced. He’s got an impressive mid-90’s heater, although his secondary pitches definitely need work. As the hottest pitcher on the Triple-A Scranton staff, he’s the logical choice for the call-up, although his ceiling is probably lower than the other guys on this list.

Luis Cessa– Seen by most scouts as the real prize in the Wilson trade, Cessa has been solid as an up-and-down arm this season. He’s allowed two runs in seven innings of work with the big league club (both on solo shots), struck out five and allowed one walk. His numbers with Scranton haven’t been as impressive as Green’s, but are still respectable. He has a 3.63 ERA and 4.27 FIP while striking out 17.3% of batters through 39.2 innings (eight starts). He probably hasn’t done enough to earn a big league rotation spot, but if the team’s decision makers see him as a better bet to stick in MLB long term than Green, he could get the call.

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Vicente Campos– A surprise addition to the 40-man roster this winter, the former top prospect appears to be finally healthy after struggling with a variety of injuries the past few years, including TJ surgery that caused him to miss the 2014 season. Campos began the year by making 10 starts with High-A Tampa, working to a 3.49 ERA and 3.27 FIP 59.1 innings. He was promoted to Double-A Trenton at the beginning of June and has only gotten better, with a 2.84 ERA and 2.37 FIP through his first three starts, striking out 24.1% of the batters he faced.

While Campos undeniably has electric stuff and should be able to climb the MiLB ladder quickly with six years of professional experience under his belt, his workload could be the biggest obstacle to a big league promotion this season. After missing the enter 2014 campaign, Campos only pitched 54.1 innings last season. He’s already surpassed that total in the first three months of 2016 with 78.1 innings pitched, and it seems doubtful the team would want him to go too far past the 100-120 range this year.

With an unsightly 6.88 ERA in his last six starts, New York Yankees starter Ivan Nova has been the weak link in the team’s rotation this month. Luckily, the club has several attractive in-house options to replace him.

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