Yu Darvish Bidding Won by Rangers

After a week of speculation, the Nippon Ham Fighters and Major League Baseball revealed the details surrounding the Yu Darvish bidding late last night.  As expected, Nippon accepted the highest bid for Darvish.  By doing so, the Japanese team allowed MLB to disclose which major league club submitted the largest offer for Darvish, the Texas Rangers.  As reported this weekend, the Rangers submitted a bid for Darvish that was the highest in the history of the posting system, $51.7 million.

Now that it’s known that the Rangers have won the bidding for Darvish, the team has 30 days to negotiate a contract with the right-hander.  If the Rangers are unable to reach an agreement with Darvish, the 25-year-old would return to Japan and Texas would get back their posting fee.  Darvish would then be able to hit the market as an unrestricted international free agent next offseason.

Originally, the Rangers said they were unwilling to spend north of $100 million on Darvish this winter.  But, already having committed $51.7 million to the process, Darvish’s salary requirements will likely push Texas into spending at least nine-figures.  Darvish and his agent are said to be seeking a contract in the five-year, $75 million range.

Scouts and analysts have pegged Darvish as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter.  Over his five seasons in Japan, Darvish has maintained an ERA and WHIP of 1.72 and 0.890 with a SO/9 of 9.5 and a BB/9 of 1.9.  Darvish has averaged more than 200 innings pitched per season during his time in Japan.

Beyond Darvish, the Rangers 2012 rotation could include Neftali Feliz, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando and Matt Harrison.

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