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Nova replaces Shields as veteran arm in White Sox's rotation

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Out goes James Shields. In comes Ivan Nova.

While he struggled as a starting pitcher for the White Sox (16-35, 5.31 ERA from 2016-18), Shields was a valued clubhouse leader and great influence on a young staff.

Nova is expected to fill the same role with the Sox. The 32-year-old righty was acquired in a Dec. 11 trade from the Pirates for pitching prospect Yordi Rosario and international bonus pool money.

"Really similar," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said of Nova and Shields. "Eat up some innings. Give us quality starts. Keep us in ballgames and allow us to hopefully get some back end of the bullpen situations where we will be fortunate enough to have some guys that have experience doing it and continue to have the guys we've had over the last couple of years continue to learn."

Nova was 9-9 with a 4.19 ERA in 29 starts for Pittsburgh last year. Over nine major-league seasons with the Yankees and Pirates, the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder is 78-64 with a 4.26 ERA.

"I was surprised," Nova said of the trade to the Sox. "It's a good thing that teams out there still want you. It's way different when nobody wants you."

Shields was an outgoing personality, so there is a difference there.

"If I've got to approach somebody, I'll do it my way," Nova said. "I'm not a type of guy that's going to step up in front of everybody and say something. I don't like to get involved in anyone's personal space. But if I've got to say something to someone, I'm going to grab them aside and do it that way."

Slow go:

Spring training has already started and close to 100 free agents are still on the market, including Manny Machado and Bryce Harper.

This is the second straight year of slow signings, and there is already speculation the players are going to strike when the current labor deal expires after the 2021 season.

"We can sit down and have a talk for hours about it," White Sox first baseman/DH Yonder Alonso said. "Hopefully, this will get cleared up and guys will get what they deserve and go play and win some games for their teams. I think it's something that needs to get addressed, obviously.

"We want the best talent on the field every single day. I think we owe it to the fans and we owe it to everybody, the players, to have the best of the best on the field on an everyday basis."

"It's not good," starting pitcher Ivan Nova said. "This is not what we expected. There are a lot of good ballplayers out there. We hope for a change. I think we've got to wait for the next CBA to change a little bit. But it's not good. It's not what we want."

At a loss:

When he met with his pitchers and catchers before Wednesday's first workout of spring training, manager Rick Renteria's main message was about losing. It is no longer going to be acceptable.

"He established that," starter Lucan Giolito said. "We're about winning here. It's not about trying to win. It's not 'Oh, we're feeling it out.' It's about winning now. That's pretty much it.

"That's the most fun, when you're winning. That's the mindset now. I'm all about it. I'm sick of losing, honestly. I've been losing from the minor leagues, my last few years, coming up here. I'm ready to win."

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