LAS VEGAS — While they were setting up a meeting with Manny Machado and staying in the hunt for Bryce Harper, the White Sox made a much less flashy — but necessary — acquisition by trading for right-hander Ivan Nova on Tuesday.
The Sox took some salary off the Pirates’ hands, gave up minor-league right-hander Yordi Rosario and international-signing bonus-pool money and filled an immediate need for their rotation.
Nova, 31, who has one season left on a $26 million deal, is owed $9.1 million in 2019. He made 29 starts in 2018 and 31 starts in 2017 with ERAs of 4.19 and 4.14. The Pirates’ Opening Day starter in 2018, he gives the Sox a needed innings-eater to go with Carlos Rodon (age 26), Reynaldo Lopez (24) and Lucas Giolito (24) in an otherwise young rotation.
“Ivan is a quality individual who provides a veteran presence to our starting rotation and has shown the ability to consistently throw strikes,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “We’re excited about what he brings to the organization on the field and in the clubhouse.
“It doesn’t preclude us from continuing to add to the rotation if we find the right fit. But this was an important get in terms of helping to stabilize the rotation, fill up some innings and take some pressure off the young guys.”
In nine seasons with the Yankees and Pirates, the 6-5, 250-pound Nova is 78-64 with a 4.26 ERA. Home runs have been a problem, with more than 1.4 allowed per nine innings since the start of 2017. But he has topped 160 innings the last three seasons, with an average of 1.75 walks per nine innings during that span, which ranks fifth in the majors behind Josh Tomlin (1.03), Clayton Kershaw (1.30), Mike Leake (1.66) and Bartolo Colon (1.66).
Hahn called the trade a “necessity” and said he has room for another starter as he awaits the likely mid- or late-season arrival of Minor League Pitcher of the Year Dylan Cease in 2019 and top pitching prospect Michael Kopech, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, in 2020. The Sox, who traded Omar Narvaez for reliever Alex Colome last week, are also looking to add more bullpen help and a catcher.
Rosario, 19, sat well below the top level of Sox prospects but had posted nice numbers. He was 1-4 with a 2.57 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 14 games (11 starts, 56 innings) last season between the Sox’ entries in the Dominican Summer League and Arizona Rookie League.
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The Sox continue to pursue bigger, more long-term targets in Machado and Harper, although neither one is expected to sign with a team during the winter meetings, which conclude Thursday.
They met with Harper on Nov. 19, and Machado is said to have meetings lined up with the Phillies, Yankees, Sox and likely several other teams. Whereas Harper has met or is meeting with teams in his hometown of Las Vegas, Machado reportedly wants to meet in the pursuing teams’ cities.
The Sox’ rebuild isn’t ready to produce a winner in 2019, but it could be by 2020, so there are no inhibitions about wasting a year of Machado or Harper production should they sign one to a long-term deal. In any event, they have other pressing needs to fill beyond Nova to field a team in 2019.
“This isn’t the last one you’re going to see like this,’’ said Hahn, who isn’t ready to promote catching prospects Zack Collins and Seby Zavala and has been linked to Yasmani Grandal, James McCann and Martin Maldonado. “In keeping with the general theme of what we are trying to accomplish, yes, we remain very true to the long-term vision here.
“If the opportunity arises to add a premium piece that fits for the long term, we are going to fully explore it and be as aggressive as we can be. In the interim, you are going to see moves that round out this roster and help make us better in the short term.’’
