Written by Greg Fertel | 29 March 2009

Pitcher Ivan Nova, who was taken the Padres in the Rule V, and expected to compete for a spot in their bullpen, was returned to the Yankees today after being placed on waivers.  Chad Jennings reports that he will end up in Trenton, though his precise role (starter or reliver) remains unclear.  Nova struggled this spring, posting an ERA over 8, but this is not too surprising given that he has not pitched above high-A ball.  It is a testament to his stuff that the Padres were willing to take a Rule V flier on Nova, but I am happy that he is back.  With 3 above-average pitches that have plus potential, Nova is a great talent, and could potentially become a solid major league pitcher given some more time to develop.  In the pitching-rich Yankee organization, he will have all the time he needs.

In other news, Jason Jones (taken in the Rule V by the Twins), did not make the major league roster for Minnesota.  However, they liked him enough to trade A-ball reliver Charles Nolte to the Yanks for the right to keep Jones in the minors.  Nolte, who had Tommy John Surgery in his senior year of high school, was drafted in the 24th round out of the University of San Diego.  Nolte, 23, put up great numbers in low-A last year, to the tune of a 2.05 ERA, and 75 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings.  However, control was a problem, as he walked a batter every other inning, 35 in total.  Nolte gets tons of groundballs (putting up an exceptional 74% GB rate) with his low-90's fastball that can touch the mid-90's, and a hard breaking ball with nice potential.  He also was very successful at keeping the ball in the park, surrendering only one homer on the season.
While Nolte was old for the league and his control needs some work, this was a nice acquisition for a guy in Jones who was going nowhere in the Yankee organization.  I expect Nolte to start in the Tampa bullpen, but he could move quickly if he pitches well.  He could be a useful bullpen piece in the majors if he can get his control together, with a nasty sinker like that he doesn't need much in the way of secondary offerings, though his curve has promise.

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