Yankees Pushing to Trade Ivan Nova Before Deadline

After completing the Aroldis Chapman deal, the New York Yankees are reportedly working hard to move another expiring contract in starting pitcher Ivan Nova.

While the Aroldis Chapman trade may have been the blockbuster, the New York Yankees may not be done this trade deadline. Even if they don’t pursue a full tear down, they have plenty of other players on expiring contracts they could decide to move before the August 1st deadline.

Buster Olney of ESPN cites a number of rival executives who claim the Yankees have been “pushing Ivan Nova in trade talks in recent weeks.”

It’s unclear what, if anything, Nova could fetch in return for the Yankees given his struggles the past few seasons, but with so many contenders desperate for starting pitching at the deadline, they can probably find someone willing to give them something, in addition to a little salary relief.

After missing most of 2014 with Tommy John surgery, Nova has been frustratingly inconsistent the past two half-seasons. He has a combined 4.86 ERA and 4.85 FIP in 187 innings of work since returning to the hill last June.

There is still reasons to think Nova can reestablish himself as a solid back-of-the-rotation in the right circumstances. His stuff is more or less undiminished by surgery, although he does seem to struggle with his command at times.

His biggest issue has been the long ball this year (1.65 HR/9), but it seems safe to say that a move out of Yankee Stadium could only help with that problem. A move to a spacious park in the National League might be exactly what Nova needs to rebuild value before he hits the open market this offseason.

Given the rising price of free agent pitching, it’s unlikely the Yankees will outbid the field to retain Ivan Nova this winter, so it’s likely he will be shipped out sometime in the next week to whoever makes the highest offer. It’s a little sad to see one of the longest tenured active Yankees leave the organization, but that’s the business of baseball.

Next: Aroldis Chapman Traded to Cubs for Four Player Package

The good news is moving Nova will allow the Yankees to give one of their promising starters in Triple-A an extended look. Whether that means reinstating 22-year-old Luis Severino to the rotation or giving a semi-permanent job to spot starter Chad Green remains to be seen. Starting pitchers Luis Cessa, Vicente Campos, and Chance Adams are all having nice seasons in the upper-minors as well.