MLB trade rumors: One player each team should target

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 27: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates catches a ball hit by Wilson Ramos #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays (not pictured) during the sixth inning at PNC Park on June 27, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 28: Ivan Nova #46 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during inter-league play at PNC Park on June 28, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Indians: Ivan Nova

An aggressive deadline period last season was enough to push the Indians over the top and into the World Series. It was their trade for Andrew Miller that allowed the Tribe to overcome two major injuries in the starting rotation. Health has not been a major issue for Cleveland this year, but ineffectiveness has.

The Indians have a staff ERA of 4.52, which includes the dominant Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer have been hit hard, as was Danny Salazar before hitting the disabled yet again. Cleveland was able to make this work in the playoffs because Miller could pitch almost every single game. Not so much in the 162-game grind that is the regular season.

The Pirates struck gold last year when they picked up Ivan Nova in a low-risk swap of middling assets with the New York Yankees. Since coming under the spell cast by Ray Searage, Nova is 13-7 in 27 starts with a 3.08 ERA, a shutout, and a sterling 7.00 SO/BB ratio. The right-hander has been very aggressive with his fastball since joining the Pirates and is letting his natural movement do all of the work.

Nova signed a three-year deal to stay with the Pirates for $26 million, a deal that now looks like a massive steal. His name has not come up in any hot trade rumors, but if Pittsburgh is going to go into a deep rebuild, it would not hurt to shop his bargain-basement contract.

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