Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova recently said he’s “not a reliever” and that he’s better suited for the starting rotation, a report said.
By Brendan Kuty
Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova doesn’t believe he’s best-suited for the role he seems likely to receive.
According to a report from the New York Post’s Dan Martin, Nova said he’s not a reliever and that he’s meant begin games.
“I’m a starting pitcher,” Nova said, according to the report “I’m not a reliever, but if that’s what they tell me to do, that’s what I’ve got to do. If I feel bad going to the bullpen, what’s that going to change?”
Nova might not have much of a choice.
After a bad return from Tommy John surgery in 2015 that saw Nova go 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA in 19 starts, Nova doesn’t seem likely to beat out any of the Yankees’ rotation options.
The Yankees seem to have at least four spots in their rotation locked down:Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Pineda.
Then there’s CC Sabathia, who’s been bad for three years but finished with a promising 2.89 ERA in his last nine starts last season, giving the Yankees hope that his new, bigger knee brace will help him going into 2016. Plus, he’s owed $25 million in 2016, and is considered a clubhouse leader. All things being equal, it might be easier for the Yankees to let Sabathia work out his kinks in the rotation rather than in the bullpen, where the former ace has never had a regular role.
On Wednesday night, general manager Brian Cashman said he believes Nova could be fueled by a salary drive in 2016.
“He’s getting ready for his free-agent walk year,” Cashman said of the 29-year-old. “If there’s going to be a time for him to put his best foot forward, if he’s on a salary drive, this would be the year for it. Hopefully we’ll benefit from it.”
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