1. SP Yu Darvish – TEX
As one of the games biggest power pitching threats makes his way back from Tommy John surgery, Texas Rangers fans wonder if he will be a strong complement to Cole Hamels in the 2016 rotation.
Before succumbing to the UCL tear in spring training last year, Yu Darvish went to three straight All-Star games and compiled 680 strikeouts in 545.1 career innings pitched in the Majors. The word right now is that he could begin a minor league rehab assignment as early as April 26 with Double-A Frisco, as he’s looked pretty impressive in his throwing and bullpen sessions already this year.
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Worst case scenario, you trade for him, stash him on your DL spot before he comes back and he gets roughed up for some or most of the season or he re-injures his elbow. Best case scenario, he’s back pitching for the Rangers by mid to late May and is every bit as nasty as he was in previous years. It’s a high risk, high reward kind of transaction. But it’s also the kind that could end up winning you your league in September.