Now that the season is over, the New York Yankees are shifting their focus for the next year with hopes of improving their lineup, rotation and bullpen. One of the team's supposed moves includes acquiring pitcher Ivan Nova. The Yankees are reportedly planning to present a contract offer to Nova on 2016, according to Joel Sherman of New York Post.
Nova made $3.3 million this past season and has already entered his last year of arbitration eligibility. He is slated to become a free agent after next season. He would receive $4.4 million in arbitration for the 2016 season, according to a projection made by MLB Trade Rumors.
The 28-year-old Dominican pitcher has pitched well in the first year following his Tommy John surgery, a procedure that involves removing a ligament in the elbow and replacing it with a tendon taken elsewhere in the body. Through his first seven starts, Nova had a 3.10 ERA. However, for his subsequent seven starts, his ERA was 7.46 including five losses, resulting to his pullout from the Yankees rotation.
If New York finalizes its decision to re-sign Nova, the player would be placed into the rotation alongside Luis Severino, CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, Nathan Eovaldi and. Nevertheless, Nova's inclusion does not necessarily mean that the Yankees would give up fellow pitcher Adam Warren as a starter. General manager Brian Cashman said that the team is willing to have Warren compete for a rotation spot during Spring Training next year.
After being beaten by the Houston Astros on Tuesday, the New York Yankees was eliminated from the 2015 playoffs. As the match is being wrapped up, GM Cashman was asked if he was satisfied at his decision of acquiring only Dustin Ackley prior to the trade deadline. He said that he was content with his move and added that he rejected a Ben Zobrist deal, citing the player's expensive price as the reason.
Lohud.com reported that the Yankees GM told reported turned down the offer that would have transferred second baseman Rob Refsnyder along with pitcher Adam Warren to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for second baseman Ben Zobrist. The 34-year-old pitcher was eventually traded to the Kansan City Royals, in return for minor league pitchers Aaron Brooks and Sean Manaea.
