New York Yankees: Ivan Nova Does Not Want To Lose Starting Spot
New York Yankees’ starting pitcher Ivan Nova wants no part of pitching out of the bullpen this upcoming season.
The New York Yankees will have a lot of questions this spring regarding their starting rotation. They have at least six players that an argument could be made for them to be a part of the rotation once the regular season comes around. All come with some question marks, but all have a reason to stake a claim to a starting spot.
Unless the Yankees want to go with a six-man rotation, which seems unlikely at this time, someone will be left out of the rotation. One player that has no plans to be appearing in games out of the bullpen is Ivan Nova.
Nova, who returned last season from Tommy John surgery, does not want to pitch of out the bullpen. According to Ryan Hatch of NJ.com, Nova is not open to moving to the bullpen. When asked about the potential of being the odd man out of the rotation, Nova responded with, “I want to be in the rotation, because I am a starting pitcher,” Nova told NJ Advance Media. “I don’t put that in my mind.”
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Well then Mr. Nova. Don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but Nova currently looks ticketed for a spot in the bullpen. Nova made his return to the Yankees rotation in late June after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2014, and the results were not pretty.
After having two strong starts off the DL, pitching 12 innings and surrendering only two runs, Nova gave up at least three earned runs in 11 of his last 15 starts of the season. He was even removed from the rotation in mid-September by Joe Girardi after getting blasted by the Toronto Blue Jays to the tune of six runs in 1 2/3 innings.
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Even when being removed from the rotation, Nova never thought about pitching out of the bullpen, saying, “They give me a little time off,” he said. “I didn’t pitch out of the bullpen though.” He would make three more starts after that, having a strong outing in his return but giving up nine more runs in 12 2/3 innings pitched in his final two starts of the season.
Nova has confidence in himself, but he must translate it onto the field if he wants to avoid the bullpen. With Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, C.C. Sabathia, Nathan Eovaldi and Luis Severino probably ahead of him currently.
An injury would open up a spot for him, but Nova will have to have a strong Spring regardless if he wants to avoid the bullpen and earn a spot in the starting rotation.
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The 29-year old Nova is in his final year of arbitration, so he will hit the free agent market after this season concludes. That is more than likely part of the reason that he wants to have a spot in the starting rotation; how many long relievers do you know that get paid well as a free agent compared to a starting pitcher, even a back end of the rotation one? Nova has a lot of motivation to show that he is better than what he showed in his 17 starts of 2015.