NEW YORK — The Texas Rangers have submitted the winning bid for Yu Darvish, earning the right to negotiate a contract with the Japanese pitcher.
Major League Baseball announced Monday night that the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan’s Pacific League informed the U.S. commissioner’s office that they have accepted the top bid for Darvish.
The Rangers, who have won the past two AL pennants, now have 30 days to sign Darvish to a contract. The 25-year-old right-hander is considered the best pitcher in Japan and several of baseball’s biggest spenders were thought to be interested in him.
“The Texas Rangers are pleased and excited to have acquired the rights to negotiate with Yu Darvish. Our organization has scouted Mr. Darvish for the last several years and has been very impressed with his abilities and accomplishments. We believe he would be a great addition to the Texas Rangers pitching staff,” the Rangers said in a statement. “We look forward to beginning the next step of this process in the very near future with Mr. Darvish and his representatives.”
Bidding for the posting fee closed last Wednesday, and the Ham Fighters had until 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday to accept. The posting fee will be paid only if an agreement is reached with Darvish’s agents, Arn Tellem and Don Nomura.
“We were pleased to learn that the Texas Rangers were the high bidders for Yu Darvish,” Tellem said in a statement. “The Rangers are an extraordinary franchise in an exceptional city with equally exceptional fans. Yu is honoured to be prized so highly and recognized as a once-in-a-generation pitcher. We look forward to getting negotiations under way.”
The six-foot-five Darvish was 18-6 with a 1.44 earned-run average and a league-leading 276 strikeouts last season.