It’s quite possible that today is Yu Darvish’s last day as a member of the Rangers organization. The Texas ace has drawn interest from several teams, with the Dodgers the most prominently linked club. However, Darvish has also been tied to the Yankees and the Indians to varying extents. The Astros are also said to have checked in, though the intra-division roadblock makes that notion a bit tougher. We’ll track all of the latest Darvish chatter in this post between now and the 4pm ET non-waiver trade deadline…
- At this point, it seems that Darvish will either go to the Dodgers or stay put, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). Given other indications that Los Angeles is focused elsewhere, it could be that the righty won’t end up changing hands today.
- Yahoo’s Jeff Passan reports (via Twitter) that it’s “getting increasingly harder” to envision Darvish landing with the Dodgers, as the two sides “simply aren’t matching up.”
Earlier Updates
- Bowden suggests that the Dodgers could look to pry lefty Alex Claudio away from the Rangers in a package deal alongside Darvish (Twitter link). Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News suggests the same, though he notes that it’d still require the Dodgers changing their stance on the inclusion of Verdugo or Buehler. Claudio, though, is just 25 years old and is controlled through 2021, so he’d be a nice long-term piece for L.A. He’s held lefties to a laughable .131/.169/.197 slash this year and has a masterful 70.5 percent ground-ball rate overall in 2017. However, he doesn’t miss many bats.
- Yahoo’s Tim Brown tweets that the Indians “are not in on Darvish” at this time. Notably, Cleveland was reported by Hoynes to be in pursuit of Orioles closer Zach Britton.
- ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, however, hears that the Indians and Astros are both “hanging around” in the Darvish picture, but the Dodgers are Texas’ preferred trading partner (Twitter link). The Yankees’ interest in Darvish is dependent on the outcome of their talks for Sonny Gray, Crasnick adds.
- Bowden tweets that the Astros, Indians and Dodgers are the three teams that are still in the mix for Darvish, and he again mentions Mejia’s name in connection to talks. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets that the Indians are interested in Darvish only if the price tag drops.
- While the Dodgers have generally regarded as the favorites for Darvish, their talks with the Rangers have essentially reached an impasse, tweets FanRag’s Jon Heyman. Los Angeles has reportedly been unwilling to part with the likes of top-ranked prospects Alex Verdugo, Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvarez for a half-season rental of Darvish, and it would seem that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has yet to budge in that regard.
- The Rangers and Indians have spoken about a “Yu Darvish for Francisco Mejia type” of deal, tweets Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. Including Mejia, the consensus top catching prospect in baseball, would be a steep price for Cleveland to pay for a rental, though the wording of the report leaves some wiggle room for other pieces to potentially be involved. The 21-year-old Mejia is hitting .317/.367/.520 with 10 homers through his first 279 plate appearances in Double-A and ranked as baseball’s sixth-best prospect on Keith Law’s midseason list. MLB.com pegged him 16th overall, while Baseball America had him 18th. Cleveland is on Darvish’s no-trade list, though it remains possible that he could waive that right for a clearer shot at the postseason.
Do it JD
Don’t do it CA! Rangers can sign him in the offseason and keep the prospects Indians give them!
Do it JD!
Duh he is a rental. You are trying to win bonehead. You want prospects or a better chance to win now??
Um yes please
As an Indian fan, I think trading Meija is a mistake. He is the Tribe catcher of the near future and way beyond.He is way better than Gomes and Perez. Lets hope Darvish rejects a trade to Cleveland. They dodged a bullet last year with Lucroy
I 100 percent agree
I definitely agree, the Indians can’t just give away their top prospect and the 16th best prospect overall for a rental. They need to keep Mejia and Triston McKenzie and give the rangers a lower prospect
Mejia has been tearing up the minors big time for the last year and a half which made the extension Tribe gave to Roberto Perez all the more puzzling. CLE seems intent on Gomes as the starting C, and he’s signed through 2020. Mejia is about to force their hand very soon.
Resigning Perez was the right deal to make at the time. He’s a solid backup and good defensive catcher so he can be dealt easily once Mejia comes up for good.
I don’t know, I just don’t trust Darvish to be that difference maker going forward. He’s been shaky this year….I know he’d improve any rotation, but is he really worth the asking price?
He’s had one really bad start. His win-loss record is crap because they don’t score for him. The guy is a legitimate ace and not many others I would rather have on the mound in game 7 of a playoff game.
One bad game? He’s got fairly torched in 3 of his last 8 starts – hence the ERA jumping from 3.03 to 4.01 over that stretch
I agree with darkstar, the record of shakiness extends beyond the one start. And I didn’t even bring up win-loss record so I’m not sure why that’s getting mentioned.
Darvish is actually doing great this year. You can’t just go off win/loss because the Rangers haven’t scored for him at all this year. I believe Darvish has one of the lowest run support numbers in all of baseball this year. Darvish has had maybe two bad starts all year. the biggest problem with Darvish is he isn’t going to give you more than 7 innings in a game at best. I believe he averages 6 1/3 innings pitched a game this year.
He has a 4 ERA and 4 FIP, its not just his W/L record
Try to pay attention. He has had no Run support, among worst in BB and his ERA was 3.46 before the 7/26 game vs Marlins where he was tipping his pitches.
Try to pay attention. Run support has nothing to do with his ERA or FIP. Saying “His stats would be better if you removed Game X” is a dangerous game to play. What player wouldn’t have better numbers if you removed his worst game? You could also flip that and say his numbers would be worse if you took away his gem against TB on 7/21.
Fact of the matter is his ERA has steadily risen since the middle of May. He’s barely a year removed from returning from Tommy John surgery, and is a rental. I think it’s natural for people to be nervous for their team to hand over their top prospects for a guy who’s best days are more than likely behind him at this point.
I doubt it’s the worst run support in baseball is like to see the link that he has had worse run support then Porcello this year.
Never up, never in! Your team is still thinking like s loser. As currently constructed, Astros kick your ass.
Great response, take your ball and run…
If the Tribe lets meija go they better be getting darvish, beltre and mazara in return.
Don’t be ridiculous!
If anything Rangers are going to include Keone Kela in the deal who has 3 years on his contract remaining
Say it ain’t so Joe! Kela stays. Claudio goes. Look at his stats. Unhittable
That sounds about right
You’re insane…as a rangers fan I agree Mejia is probably too much to lose, but including Beltre and Mazara is idiotic
Just ignorant
Laughable how much value some fans put in a prospect
I love Darvish. But you can’t sell the farm for a rental. Look at the Price trade to Toronto.
Price got the Jays to their first playoffs in 22 years and Norris & Boyd have been mostly below average with Detroit. I would do that trade again 99 times out of 99 times.
Mejia is a legit elite prospect …… similar to Gleyber Torres last year.
I wouldn’t do it but if it means a real shot at a World Series title It is a compelling rationale.
Teams have to take their WS shots as they come. 75% of prospects never produce / that’s why they are PROSPECTS.
I would imagine to haul in a prospect of that caliber the deal will have more than just Darvish going to CLE.
Probably takes a BP piece like Kela or Claudio plus someone like Gomez or Napoli as throw ins. I’m sure Tito would love to have Nap back in the clubhouse for a pennant push.
Then again this could all be smoke and mirrors to make the Dodgers blink.
You seriously think for an ace like darvish and a young arm in Kela + it would only take meija? You my friend are dillusional.
Obviously he’s the centerpiece and a couple others of lesser status would also come back to TX. I’m not your friend so go pound sand.
Look what the Whïťĕ sox got for Quintana I know he has an additional year but Eloy who is way better than Mejia.
Quintana has three years of control beyond 2017. You can’t compare his trade return to a Darvish return — they’re wildly different assets due to Quintana’s contractual status.
The truth gets a downvote?
They already have EE and Carlos
Darvish is a 5 inning pitcher that strikes out 10. He wears out a bullpen. I wouldn’t give a top prospect for him especially for 2 months of service. I would set my sights on Lance Lynn.
I am not going to argue that the Indians should trade Mejia for Darvish, but what you said is just incorrect. Even with his last horrendous start, he is averaging about 6 1/3 innings pitched per start this year. But let’s not let facts get in the way of our arguments, right?
Even if you assume that Darvish doesn’t last as long as other starters, with expanded September line-ups and stretched out October series, this is precisely the time of year when shorter outings hurts you less. His status as an expensive rental should be concerning, but a risk to the bullpen? Nah.
Lol get your facts straight dude. He averages 6+ innings a game. Same as Kershaw almost
Love when clueless people act like they know what they’re talking about
If the Tribe trades Mejia for Darvish, they’re gonna piss off many of their fans, me included.
Darvish is a rental, Mejia is the future.
That’s where the problem comes into the this. I don’t think the Indians front office sees him as the future or they wouldn’t of signed Perez to the extension they did before the season. Gomes was already signed through 2019 plus 2 options and now with Perez you have 2 catchers under contract until 2020 at least. Mejia will be ready well before that time. They are hoping one of them will hit better but when you look at it they were almost showing he was a trade chip.
I almost never view prospects as untouchables and while I agree that he may be the future catcher I would be ok with trading Mejia but only in the right deal. For a 2 month rental he should never be in the discussion no matter who it is.
Where did my comment disappear to?
Me too, I had several here that vaporized and for no reason.
I like dervish to my Dodgers but I would not give up the farm for a rental
I don’t think you’d have to give up the farm. One of Buehler or Verdugo and then some lesser prospects. I’d love to get Buehler/Verdugo, Heredia and May. Rangers would be getting one top 100 guy and then two outside the Dodgers top 10 with that
Reset those expectations fella.
PLEASE don’t trade Mejia
As a White Sox fan, I’m 100% on board with this trade. Go Cleveland.
Mejia for Darvish would be pure insanity by Cleveland. Darvish gives you what, 7 starts down the stretch and is no better than a #3 in a playoff rotation behind Kluber, Carrasco, and maybe even a #4 if Salazar keeps pitching lights out?
That would be a horrendously dumb move by CLE. SP is not their biggest need. They need a LOOGY and maybe some depth at RF or 2B. If you’re going to deal Mejia, it better be to PIT with another guy or two for Harrison/Watson/McCutchen.
Lol Carrasco and Salazar aren’t better than Darvish
A couple starts out of a soon departing via free agency Darvish is not better than Carrasco and Mejia or Salazar and Mejia.
The short term rental is not worth Mejia, so Mejia and either of those guys is worth far more to the Tribe than Darvish.
This Mejia talk could just be smoke to get the Dodgers to blink and part with Verdugo or Buehler.
Well that theory sure made sense…..
Also, look who’s pushing the Mejia-Darvish stuff – Jim Bowden, who’s a buffoon. Responsible journos closest to the situation like Hoynes aren’t.
Bingo.
No to Mejia being traded.
Dodgers shouldn’t give up too much for Darvish. He has publicly stated he loves it in Texas and doesn’t want to leave. He’ll be headed back there after the season.
They’d be getting him for now. That’s why it’s called a rental.
I think LAD would have a good change at re-signing him
He’ll be a free agent so same chance, whether they rent him for the end of the season, or not. The only advantage the Rangers potentially get is if they hang onto him and he’s extended a QO.
Do not give up any of the three – Verdugo, Buehler, Yadi, just for Darvish. However, with the inclusion of a LH bullpen piece, that might be enough. We are already looking into other relievers, this may be the one more that works best while only giving up ONE of the three above with one or two lower tiered prospects.
Yu scares me a little, I do like Claudio as a bullpen piece. I’d give up Verdugo for both those guys.
Yup. Verdugo looks like another Jerry Sands. Give him up, Andy!
All the Dodgers did after losing Kershaw is win 7 straight games. Do not give up the farm for any of these guys.
Regular season wins over the Giants are not the reason Dodgers would be acquiring Darvish. Would winning 105 games in the regular season and then losing in the playoffs with Verdugo and Buehler in the minors would be acceptable for fans?
Verdugo and Buehler will be on the big club in october
Verdugo is way too average to protect right now. Make the trade.
I’d rather have Sonny or Verlander.
Dodgers rangers not matching up means that the rangers keep asking for verdugo buelher or Alvarez and the dodgers are holding out
Well, yeah, these things often come down to who blinks first.
This is going down to the last hour, but I still see the trade happening with 3 prospects not named Verduo, Alvarez, Buehler, Calhoun or Kendall. I’ve also read that Mitchell White will not be moving either.
This should be interesting.
Lol you see the Rangers giving up Darvish to the Darvish but the Dodgers giving up none of their top 5? It would take one of Buehler/Verdugo or at two of the others in top 6 guys. You won’t get him if the Dodgers are unrealistically making everyone of value untouchable. That’s just silly. Rangers aren’t giving up an elite rotation are for nothing
They will be giving him up for a roughly 80th overall pick in next years draft in about 30 minutes… they should really take the best deal on the table at this point as long as it’s better than an 80th overall pick…
I mean you’re not wrong but in the real world that just doesn’t happen. The same way that my team isn’t trading all of their pending FA’s despite being nowhere near a playoff spot and those guys not even being worth QO’s like Darvish is.
The Dodgers are gonna have to part with one of there prospects and I don’t see why they don’t part with Verdugo because they already have many young and middle age outfielders and they have the money to resign Darvish at the end of the year
+1
What happened to the Dodgers being 100% certain that they would acquired Gray, Verlander or Darvish? We already know Gray isn’t happening.