Ivan Nova has opted to have Tommy John surgery to repair the partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.

"I think it's the right decision," Joe Girardi said. "I haven't really seen anyone rehab a partially torn ligament and have success. It seems what it does is just delay the inevitable of what's going to happen. Then instead of maybe missing a year and a little bit of time, you miss a couple of years."

Nova suffered the injury in the fifth inning of Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg.

The right-hander was 2-2 with an 8.27 ERA in four starts this season.