Tigers Add Veteran Pitcher to Team
The Tigers have bolstered their current rotation by adding a veteran pitcher to their already-fearsome lineup for the upcoming season. The team is waiting for their young pitching prospects to make their way to the Majors.
Ivan Nova will be on the mound for the team as veteran depth for the 2020 MLB season. The team has signed him to a $1.5 million deal that would lock his stay for one whole season. His deal also has incentives included in it.
The 33-year-old made 34 starts last year for the White Sox, which ties the Major League lead. He also posted an 11-12 record for a 4.72 ERA. His two complete games had a 104-pitch, four-hit win over the Astros last August.
Heading into the All-Star break, Nova took a 4-7 record and 5.58 ERA. He finished with a 7-5 record and 3.72 ERA in his final 16 starts, taking out 48 batters over the stretch of 87 innings.
Nova’s durability in games is the main reason why he was valuable to the Tigers which then led to his signing with the team. The team had nine starts combined from Tyson Ross and Matt Moore last year prior to their season-ending injuries.
See the latest odds on the MLB outrights
Detroit also signed the two players to a combined $9.25 million. Thirteen pitchers made starts for the team last year which featured relievers Buck Farmer and Zac Reininger as openers, and Edwin Jackson rejoined the rotation down the stretch.
GM Al Avila said that he wanted to have at least seven strong starting candidates in Spring Training. Nova joins Matthew Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, Jordan Zimmermann, Tyler Alexander, and Rony Garcia.
‘Heading into the offseason, we knew that adding veteran depth to our starting rotation was important, and Ivan fits that need while also providing strong leadership in the clubhouse’, Avila said in a statement. ‘Ivan has a proven track record of reliability, throwing at least 160 innings in each of the last four seasons, and often puts his club in a position to win when he’s on the mound’.
Nova’s addition to the team is a big one. He will make a big impact on the team’s mentality on games since the latter has played a lot of big games in his career. He is excited to take part in the team’s comeback season.
Read on Alex Wilson’s return to the Tigers with a Minor League contract
‘I’ve had the opportunity to play for some historic organizations during my professional career, and joining the Tigers adds to that list in a big way’, Nova said in a statement. ‘This is a very exciting day for me, and I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates and coaches and working with them to bring winning baseball to the great fans here in Detroit’.
Nova could definitely bring an impact to the team, especially if he would be playing with the same pace that he had in his previous seasons. That would make the Tigers more dangerous than they are ought to be in the upcoming season.
The team is surely in for a comeback season, and Nova could be the team’s missing piece that could pave the way for their return in the World Series.
