Robert Murray of FanRag Sports reports that Ivan Nova has signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for three years and $26 million. He will get a $2 million signing bonus.
That’s a lot cheaper than many suspected he’d get after his solid performance following his trade to Pittsburgh last season. Nova started slow with the Yankees, posting a 4.90 ERA in 15 starts and six relief appearances but posted a 3.06 ERA in 11 starts for the Pirates while striking out 52 and walking just three in 64.2 innings.
Nova is basically J.A. Happ, right? Happ had a crappy first half of 2015, went to Pittsburgh and fixed himself in 11 great starts, just like Nova. And yet Nova got $10 million less than Happ got on his three year deal with the Blue Jays a year ago.
Oh well.