Pirates re-sign Ivan Nova to 3-year, $26 million contract

The Pirates have agreed to re-sign right-hander Ivan Nova to a 3-year, $26 million contract, as first reported by Robert Murray of FanRag Sports. The deal includes a $2 million signing bonus.

Nova, who turns 30 next month, was one of the top free-agent starters available on this year’s free-agent market after posting a 5-2 record and 3.06 ERA with the Pirates after being traded by the Yankees at the non-waiver trade deadline last August. His contract was very difficult to predict, with many in the industry believing he would earn something between a J.A. Happ’s deal with the Blue Jays (3 years, $36 million) and Ian Kennedy’s deal (5 years, $70 million) with the Royals last winter.

Nova is the second free-agent addition of the week for the Pirates, joining reliever Daniel Hudson, who signed a 2-year, $11 million deal. Pittsburgh is still looking for rotation upgrades, and remains in pursuit of White Sox starter Jose Quintana, according to FOX’s Ken Rosenthal.

Nova is a veteran of seven major-league seasons with the Yankees (2010-16) and Pirates (2016), and owns a lifetime 58-41 record and 4.30 ERA in that span. He struggled to a 4.90 ERA in 97.1 innings with New York before being traded at the deadline, but was able to re-claim some value with a strong showing for the Bucs down the stretch.

Nova is just the fourth starter to sign a multi-year deal on the weak starting pitching market this winter, joining Charlie Morton (Astros), Rich Hill (Dodgers) and Edinson Volquez (Marlins).