The Pittsburgh Pirates today agreed to terms on a three-year contract with free agent right-handed pitcher Ivan Nova. The announcement was made by Pirates Executive Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
The 29 year-old Nova went 12-8 with a 4.17 ERA (162.0ip/75er), 28 walks and 127 strikeouts in 32 total games (26 starts) with New York (AL) and Pittsburgh in 2016. He ranked fifth among Major League pitchers with a 1.56 BB/9.0ip ratio and set a career high in appearances.
Nova began the 2016 season with the Yankees before being acquired by the Pirates on August 1 in exchange for two players to be named (outfielder Tito Polo and pitcher Stephen Tarpley on 8/30). In 11 starts with Pittsburgh, Nova went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA and tied his single-season career high with three complete games. In addition, he issued only one walk in his first five starts (31.1ip) with the Pirates and just three free passes overall with the Bucs in 64.2 innings of work.
"We are pleased to have been able to reach agreement with Ivan Nova to have him remain a Pirate," said Huntington. "Ivan pitched well with us the final two months of the season and we look forward to him being a key part of our rotation as we work to return to the Postseason."
Nova made his Major League debut with the Yankees in 2010 and has gone 58-41 in 142 big league games (129 starts). He won a career-high 16 games in 2011 and posted career highs in starts (28) and innings pitched (170.1) while going 12-8 in 2012.
To make room for Nova on the 40-man roster, the Pirates will announce a corresponding roster move later.