Chicago Cubs, Yu Darvish rumors running rampant after latest signing

Chicago Cubs, Darvish talking about a deal?

An Associated Press report Monday night detailed ‘active talks’ between the Cubs and Darvish – the right-hander who shut them down in the NLCS at Wrigley Field last October. When you add in the reported signing of Gimenez, it’s hard not to connect the dots.

Darvish, 31, spent his entire Major League career with the Texas Rangers before a midseason trade last year that sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched much better in the National League down the stretch, putting up a 3.38 FIP in nine regular season starts with L.A.

Now, here’s what worries Cubs fans. After dominating Chicago in the League Championship Series, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion in the World Series. Darvish made two starts against the Houston Astros, compiling a 21.60 ERA across just 3 1/3 innings of work. Later, reports of tipped pitches allayed some of those concerns, but a good many fans remain wary.

A steal compared to years’ past

Personally, a Darvish signing puts the Cubs over the top – giving them one of the most potent rotations in the game heading in to Spring Training. Especially if they can pull off something in the range Buster Olney mentioned.

If you can sign Darvish for five years at a $20 million AAV (5/100) – you do it. He is a proven pitcher who brings with him tremendous experience from both overseas and the big leagues. In any potential postseason series, the Cubs could conceivably trot out Darvish along with Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester and Jose Quintana. And that’s completely looking past Tyler Chatwood, who could prove to be a steal if he pans out.