It’s been anticipated for some time now that Japanese starting pitcher Yu Darvish will be joining the ranks of the free agent class of 2012. While this still may very well happen, a source told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that everyone should be cautioned; it is not guaranteed that Darvish will be bringing his talents to North America and Major League Baseball.
Darvish’s current team, the Nippon-Ham Fighters, has not yet said if they will post the 25-year-old. As is the case in MLB, teams in Japan tend to hold off on making significant announcements until after the Japan Series concludes. Unfortunately for those hoping for a quick answer, the Series has been delayed because of the earthquakes that shook the country earlier this year. At this point, Morosi says the season may not be over for another week and a half.
This development will likely push back the announcement of a decision, and Morosi states that Darvish’s status may not become officially known until closer to Christmas. Morosi’s source close to Darvish’s club says the right-hander will “more likely than not” be posted, but also said that nothing is definite at this time. While these things normally do take a while to develop, the delayed decision figures to have an impact on current free agent negotiations.
As one of the most highly-touted prospects to come out of Japan, Darvish figures to cost a pretty penny. Analysts call Darvish a number two starting pitcher, but note that he has the ability to rise to the very top of rotations. Even though he hasn’t thrown a single pitch in the Majors, if he does decide to join the league, Darvish will instantly become one of the most coveted free agents available.
With many expecting Darvish to be posted, teams may not want to spend their money on the market’s other top starters. Instead, these clubs may elect to conserve their resources until they know one way or another if Darvish will be posted. This could cause teams to miss out on players and/or slow down the entire market for free agent starting pitchers.