The Rockies have agreed to a deal with right-hander Ivan Nova, FanSided’s Robert Murray reports (Twitter link). It is presumably a minor league contract, which would be the second minors deal of the last three months for the veteran hurler. Nova previously inked a minors pact with the Phillies last January but was granted a release at the end of March when he didn’t make Philadelphia’s Opening Day roster.
Nova signed a one-year, $1.5MM Major League deal with the Tigers prior to the 2020 season but ended up pitching only 19 innings (with an 8.53 ERA) due to right triceps tendinitis. With the very notable exception of the Tommy John surgery that cut short both his 2014 and 2015 seasons, Nova has otherwise been a pretty durable pitcher throughout his 11-year career, averaging 174 innings per year from 2016-19 and also banking 335 2/3 frames with the Yankees in 2012-13.
Colorado doesn’t have much rotation depth in the minors, so Nova is by far the most experienced option available at the alternate training site. How Nova might fare at Coors Field is an open question, as he has a 15.2% homer rate since the start of the 2012 season, though he does generate his share of ground balls (career 48.9% grounder rate) to make up for a lack of strikeouts.
Hopefully he doesn’t get off to a rocky start with his new club.
You know that song Rocky Mountain high? Well this is Rocky Mountain low.
Rocky Mountain High ERA tho
First thing that comes to mind thinking about Ivan Nova pitching at Coors is Bugs Bunny…..WHAM!!!! A Homer!!! … WHAM!! another Homer!!! …….
Is it possible to say Colorado Rockies without laughing? Because it isn’t for me.
Batting Practice
When will Scott Kazmir be brought into the fold .?
never
LOL go to the Orioles next
Nova’s value is that he can provide 30+ slightly below average (career ERA+ of 96) starts/year.
Certainly not the sexiest role & pretty far below how he viewed himself (“best pitcher in the world”) earlier in his career but definitely worth a couple million bucks or whatever.
The Tigers were hoping for that, but got bumpkus from him. Tehran is this years version.
At this stage in his career, Ivan Nova can’t even pitch a tent. What is he going to do in Colorado?
Stand on second base and throw balls into the bleachers, thus cutting out the middle-man?
Probably smoking some put
Only 2 weeks into the season and COL is trawling for pitchers to soak up some innings. Gonna be a looooong season. Oh, Mike Leake is still available, so there’s your backup plan.
If he pitches as poorly as he did with the Phillies in spring training, his next MLB call up will be very brief.
Yo!
Ne should retire
Nova could pitch at Great American Park aka Greatest Short Park in America! Balls aren’t juiced this year and may not fly out of Coors as much
Admit it, you’re angry that you don’t get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to suck at your job.
Chris Volstad pitched well in rockies AAA field.
Nova is a better fit with the Pirates, an NPB team, KBO team, Orioles, any team with dreadful pitching.
Any relation to Aldo Nova
Life is just a fantasy
Nova’s got nothing new.