Texas Rangers Free Agent Targets: Which starting pitcher will they sign?
By Tim Boyle
Yu Darvish
Familiarity breeds contempt but it sure does feel good to know what you’re getting yourself into.
This past summer, the Texas Rangers said goodbye to ace Yu Darvish in a trade executed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Darvish was valuable to the Dodgers through their playoff run until he hit a wall in the World Series. If anyone is ready to forgive Darvish for this, it’s the Rangers.
In parts of five seasons with the Rangers Darvish went 52-39 with a 3.42 ERA. He averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings, while establishing himself as one of the American League’s best starters.
Perhaps the only negative thing to say about Darvish is he’s not an innings eater. Since he does strikeout so many batters, Darvish tends to see his pitch count rise very quickly. The Rangers know this already, so I doubt it plays much of a factor.
When it comes to reuniting with Darvish, it’s all about dollars and cents. How many years must Darvish receive on the big contract he’s about to earn?
As arguably the best pitcher on the open market, he’ll get to call the shots and request whatever he really deserves.
Jake Arrieta is the other starter out there with the potential to make “Darvish Money.” Because of his age and the fact that he would come into a brand new environment, it’s Darvish or bust when it comes to the top two names.