Free Agents Unlikely to Sign Soon

SammyKhalifa · Post by **SammyKhalifa** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 3:24 pm

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/211507278 ... acts-soon/

Ivan Nova, right-handed pitcher, 30 years old: One of the youngest starters available on the market, Nova has battled health issues and inconsistency over the past two seasons. But the right-hander looked like a different pitcher after being traded to the Pirates last August, posting a 3.06 ERA with an astonishing 17.3 K/BB ratio. For pitchers like Nova, the market generally takes time to sort out their true value. It's likely he'll be offered a one-year deal, unless a club such as Pittsburgh or Miami is willing to take a multiyear chance on his rebound -- and his impressive 53 percent ground-ball rate in '16.

OrlandoMerced · Post by **OrlandoMerced** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 3:31 pm

Obviously Nova wants a 5 year deal, (his stated demand I believe) he would probably accept the 3 year ~$40M contract. His current suitors are probably offering the 2 year ~$25M contract, he can probably get a 1 year deal ~15 from plenty of teams. Will the Pirates add that third year I assume is the where the stalemate is.

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:19 pm

There is a report the Red Sox are nearing a deal for Clay Bucholz. The team the Sox are talking to is not yet known. Could the Bucs be that team? Bucholz is a free agent at year end so possibly the Pirates may want to acquire him and not have to obligate money for more than this season which they would probably do by signing a free agent pitcher such as Nova.

OrlandoMerced · Post by **OrlandoMerced** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:21 pm

That was apparently the Phillies

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/p ... hholz.html

OrlandoMerced · Post by **OrlandoMerced** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:25 pm

The return looks like a Chase Simpson or Jerick Suiter type. So probably safe to assume that if they wanted him, he could have been had.

mouse · Post by **mouse** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 7:22 pm

The Phils also picked up his entire salary, which may have been a touchy point for NH. Apparently it did allow a lesser prospect to go to Boston and may save Boston from being a third-time luxury tax offender.

Ecbucs · Post by **Ecbucs** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 7:48 pm

5153494F593C0 wrote: The Phils also picked up his entire salary, which may have been a touchy point for NH. Apparently it did allow a lesser prospect to go to Boston and may save Boston from being a third-time luxury tax offender.

I don't see how the Pirates could take on all his salary after dealing Liriano. Perhaps they could have more confidence in Bucholz improving but it would be a disaster if he tanked. Maybe if the Pirates had confidence in him they would have offered a better prospect although the guy the Phillies traded has done well so far in the minors.