Yu Darvish: 10-12, 3.86 ERA, 209 SO, 1.163 WHIP
For a pitcher with a 10-12 record last season, Yu Darvish sure is playing up his free agency. I’m aware that he got the stuff to be an excellent pitcher. But he’s yet to put it all together, although injuries may have had a part in that. What’s troubling is his inconsistency. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Darvish struck out 10 in each of his first two starts with the Dodgers. But what many remember are his final two starts of 2017.
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Darvish took the ball in Game 3 and 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros. He failed to make it out of the second inning in either start. It was later shared that Darvish was tipping his pitches. Some felt that let him off the hook a little, but the result was still the same.
The Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs are on his final list. It’s rumored that his vague Tweet might have been referring to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that’s still unknown. But with the Rangers not likely to spend the money on a big name, and the Twins in a similar boat–the Cubs chances are as good as any to land Darvish.