New York Yankees shopping Ivan Nova?

Could the New York Yankees part with starting pitcher Ivan Nova?

Trade rumors have swirled around the New York Yankees of late, and it was no different on Tuesday as we wait in earnest for baseball’s Winter Meetings to begin in December.

According to New York Post columnist Joel Sherman, the New York Yankees have let it be known that starting pitcher Ivan Nova is available.

It’s curious timing for a franchise that many industry insiders believe needs to fortify its starting rotation.

Sherman states that the Yankees are not trying to “sell low” on Nova. He had Tommy John surgery in 2014 and posted a 5.07 ERA and 63/33 K/BB ratio in 94 innings over 17 starts upon returning this season.

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Nova is under team control for 2016 and is set to earn around $4.5 million in his last year of arbitration eligibility, thus making him a cheap commodity on the trade market.

Due to turn 29 in January, Nova has shown flashes of becoming a reliable number-three type starting pitcher, but injuries and bouts of inconsistency have hampered his development in pinstripes.

However, he is only two years removed from posting a 3.10 ERA over 20 starts, so as any Yankees fan knows, Nova does possess the talent capable of delivering on every fifth day.

Age, contract and one additional year further removed from Tommy John might entice teams to take a cheap gamble that Nova can regain some of the form he has shown in the past.

Reality Hurts

General manager Brian Cashman has a laundry list of issues to address heading into 2016.

The Yankees need to find starting pitching, bullpen and middle infield help (Robinson Cano anyone?) while sifting through a glutton of infield and DH platoon options.

The trade package for Nova would probably not bring back the type of players or prospects Yankees fans would expect.

Moreover, it could forecast a sign of a bigger move up Cashman’s sleeve for the likes of one of the ace starting pitchers on the market.

With questions surrounding number-one starter Masahiro Tanaka (elbow), CC Sabathia‘s bout with alcoholism, and the inexperienced yet ultra-talented Luis Severino, the Yankees can ill afford to make a mistake if they look to retake control of the AL East in 2016.

Next: White Sox sign Alex Avila

Although feasible in principle, the Yankees should be inclined to hold onto Nova unless they find a deal too good to pass up.

The Yankees always seem to give their rabid fan base a Christmas present with an unexpected player acquisition of some kind, so stay tuned.