Tigers: Signing Iván Nova adds depth to a weak rotation

In a very mediocre offseason from the Detroit Tigers pitching staff, but another minute signing of Iván Nova helps them add some “depth” to the rotation. The team brought in the veteran right-handed pitcher to help fill some roles for the Tigers who are going to fight to see fifty wins.

The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms of a one-year contract, worth $1.5 million with starting pitcher Iván Nova who is a ten year veteran of Major League Baseball. The Tigers rotation is currently set for the first four starters, but the fifth starter spot is up for grabs with a few different names being in that race.

If Nova wins that job, his contract has a couple of various incentives that could boost the value of his contract with the team.  The Tigers rotation is not the absolute worst it has been as of late once Michael Fulmer comes back, suffering through another year of Jordan Zimmermann is going to be rough, but he’ll eat up innings.

Currently, the Tigers 2020rotation looks like this… (before Fulmer returns)

1. Matthew Boyd
2. Spencer Turnbull
3. Jordan Zimmermann
4. Daniel Norris
5. Iván Nova / Tyler Alexander / Zack Godley

Nova spent the 2019 season with the Chicago White Sox, having spent the prior two with the Pittsburgh Pirates. For the Southside Sox, Nova made thirty-four starts on the season with an 11-12 record, a 4.72 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts over 187 innings pitched.

Now, Nova also managed to allow 225 hits over 187 innings pitched, which is almost as bad as Zimmermann. Looking at his numbers should show fans everything they need to know, the Tigers just spent $1.5 million on someone who will eat up innings in this Tigers rotation.

The right-handed pitcher is thirty-three years old and will take the mound for the Tigers with hopes to eat up some innings on a rebuilding mess of a team.

Bringing in Nova affects the rotation in a few different ways, assuming Zack Godley can make the big league club out of Spring Training, he will most likely head to the bullpen as a right-handed help arm.

Nova will most likely edge out Tyler Alexander for that final spot who may still get spot starts here and there if needed on a doubleheader or something of that nature. The other thing this signifies is General Manager Al Avila’s unwillingness to test out the young arms.

It was improbable as it is, but this move signifies that arms like Casey Mize and Matt Manning will not be seeing the Tigers rotation in 2020, or at least not until later in the season.

The two arms may have been able to crack a spot in the rotation on a trial period early into the season, but Nova is most likely going to stall that from happening, barring no injuries come to the team like last season with some of the signings.