Rangers righty Yu Darvish, one of the game’s most interesting players to watch in 2017, seems increasingly likely to test the open market after the season. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, while Darvish is willing to consider a new deal with his current organization, “there has been little in the way of actual conversation with the front office this winter.”
As Grant explains, the lack of significant chatter about another contract may be more of a hindrance in this case than for most other players. Given Darvish’s combination of excellence on the mound, shaky health, and relative youth, any deal would likely require rather detailed bargaining on an array of contract terms (and also require the involvement of an insurer). Though Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals agreed to their recent extension one month into the 2016 season, that came about after months of back-and-forth, with the finalized agreement taking quite a while to hammer out even after the general parameters were in place.
It’s worth bearing in mind the Strasburg agreement for other reasons, too. The two pitchers have roughly similar profiles: dominating stuff, somewhat less dominant but still excellent results, and big health questions. That makes the $175MM deal struck by Strasburg a rather notable comp for a Darvish deal, though Strasburg’s advantage in age surely must be accounted for. (He was nearly three years younger last winter than Darvish is now.) With Strasburg again dealing with elbow questions late last year, though, it’s also a reminder of the risks.
Grant goes on to discuss some of the possible reasons that the Rangers may have for their apparent lack of action thus far on Darvish. Anticipated cost surely seems to be one plausible factor, and it’s also possible the organization prefers to remain more flexible at this stage rather than locking into a huge contract that would dictate so many other decisions.
Still, it’s tough to imagine the team won’t at least try to find out what it would take to get something done. And there surely is time to reverse course. It’s possible, too, that some communications have occurred but are being held very close to the vest. (In the case of Strasburg and the Nats, for example, the key talks took place at the ownership level; the deal came as a surprise when it was finally reported and then consummated in early May.)
Regardless of how things proceed between Darvish and the Rangers, he’ll be a fascinating player to follow in 2017. There are other possible contenders to be the “best starter available” in the 2017-18 free agent class — including Jake Arrieta, Johnny Cueto (if he opts out), and a host of others who could boost their stock with a big season — but few have as much to earn as Darvish. With 200+ dominating innings, Darvish may well be lined up for a guarantee approaching (or perhaps even exceeding) $200MM, but teams will be watching closely to see how his arm holds up.
Wait to see if he gets hurt then pull the trigger is the smart thing to do
Wait until when? At some point, the player sees the FA finish line and no longer fears the risk of waiting. And once Darvish is a FA, there are teams with more $$ that needs SPs as much as the Rangers. Only reason not to push now is that you fear injury so much that you’re not seriously interested (i.e. you’re not in unless you get him on the cheap – which they won’t).
I didn’t know there was a team called the Ranges.
Thanks for your contribution to the MLBTR community. I didn’t know there were people on the Internet who received joy out of pointing out spelling errors. Keep up the good fight!
Our names are Rosencrans, Swihardt, and Darkish, and we approve of the correction.
Big in the Hot Stove League.
I’m here all week. Don’t forget to tip your bartender and your waitress.
Bc they used to be called the Washington senators
Just like the Astros used to be called the colt 45s
Rangers in Texas make way more sense then rangers in ny
There were Rangers in NY before Texas. Rogers’ Rangers of the time of the “French and Indian War”. You must see the film Northwest Passage with Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, Walter Brennan, et al. — it’s a classic. The original book by Kenneth Roberts is a great read, too.
I assume the NY hockey team was named for them.
That’s not what I said. I said the name makes no sense
Texas Rangers makes sense
New Rangers does not
[Sigh…..]
Sorry, dude, an apt observation like that requires your reader to know something about the F&I War, where it was fought, and therefore why the Rangers reference would thus make sense. It appears that is not the case here.
Thanks. I guess it also requires the reader to want to learn something. Silly of me to hope for such things in this case.
As much as I am a fan of Darvish, part of me wants the Rangers to trade him.
Rangers owners have gotten cheap past 2 seasons, but I would be skeptical of darkish anyway.
How are they cheap when payroll is as big as it is?
Yeah seriously.
I think you young stats this year bc it’s fa year and then….? Japanese pitchers have not fair well in MLB over long haul
With star studded FA class of 2018 looming, including the possibility of hometown boy Clayton Kershaw, the Rangers may be reluctant to sign Darvish to a large contract unless it can reduce payroll in other areas.
Why would Clayton ever opt out
Dude is set for life
Every player that has an opt-out clause is set for life. They still do it if they’re productive. Kershaw won’t be an exception as long as he’s still healthy.
He’ll have two years and $65MM left on his contract as he heads into his age-31 season. He’ll have another $200MM+ waiting for him barring significant injury.
Unless his elbow explodes, given what Price got, I think he’s almost certain to set the record for a pitcher’s contract.
Most definitely. Prolly like 4/150
if he has a healthy 2017 he’s gonna get an offer higher than 4/150. I’m not sure how much he cares about money at this point in his career though, he might take less than absolute max dollar to stay in LA
I think he may opt out & still stay in LA. They’re not exactly averse to handing out $$. And I think he’d like to be a Dodger lifer (and recognizes the likelihood he can have both). Cespedes opted out & immediately resigned.
I would be shocked if Darvish got anywhere near a $200 million dollar deal.