Top righty Yu Darvish appears to be destined to change uniforms in the coming days, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network (via Twitter). While the Rangers have been waiting to decide whether to deal the talented starter, Rosenthal says the club is now informing rivals that it will trade him.
Darvish now clearly represents the top rental hurler available on the market. With the Rangers said to be “confident” of achieving a significant return, per Rosenthal, the organization is “actively exchanging names” with interested contenders. With less than four days to go til the non-waiver deadline, then, the report seemingly sets the stage for a bidding war on one of the game’s most accomplished starters.
To be sure, other pitchers of significance that could be traded in the coming days, some with greater trade value. In particular, the expectation remains that Sonny Gray will change hands. But there’s an argument to be made that no other pitcher has so much potential to impact the outcome of the current season.
That said, at thirty years of age, Darvish is hardly pitching at his highest levels. He’s averaging just under ten strikeouts per nine for the first time ever, has surrendered a few more home runs than usual, and carries an uncharacteristic 4.01 ERA through 137 innings. That earned run average ballooned by more than half a run after Darvish was knocked around in his start.
On the whole, as Dave Cameron of Fangraphs explored in detail today, there are some reasons for worry but also signs for ongoing confidence. Darvish is throwing hard and getting about as many swings and misses as ever. He is on track to approach or perhaps exceed two hundred innings for the second time in a full season. And whatever the risks, there will be no long-term contractual entanglements to magnify them.
It seems from this most recent report that rival organizations see enough cause to believe in Darvish to motivate the Rangers to deal him. In terms of possible landing spots, there are quite a few, as MLBTR’s Connor Byrne ran down earlier today.
Texas had reportedly advised other teams that it’d pursue a Wild Card run, despite a marginal position in the standings, if a sufficient return couldn’t be had for Darvish. Instead, it seems, the righty will likely end up on the move — leaving the organization looking to re-tool for 2018. Indications are that Adrian Beltre will remain mostly off limits, though Jonathan Lucroy seems to be on the block and we heard today that relievers Jeremy Jeffress and Keone Kela are available. Pending free agents such as Carlos Gomez and Mike Napoli (the latter’s contract includes a club option) would also appear to be fair game, with the Rangers perhaps now more motivated to deal them given their evident intentions regarding Darvish.
madmanTX
Best offer wins: time to unload your top prospects into our farm system. No pain, no gain.
theroyal19
He’s a rental. They’ll get 2 top prospects, a high ceiling A ball guy, and a fringe major leaguer.
Sibert18
You’re cute if you think that’s true
1738hotlinebling
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL your low key scared Yu is gonna be traded
Sibert18
Me? No I’m not, but saying hell receive only 2 prospects with 1 being a high A guy is comical
tuckshop25
Pretty sure he meant two top prospects AND an A-ball flyer and a fringey major leaguer. Not that those were the description of the two prospects.
TheGreatTwigog
Darvish is gonna cost a top top guy. From the Dodgers, for example, maybe Beuhler or Verdugo plus some low A guys, or Calhoun plus Alvarez
gammaraze
There is the presence of an Oxford comma, so it would appear that he intended 4 guys to be traded for Yu,
Dark14ry
Dodgers are not gonna trade Beuhler or Verdugo for a rental in Darvish who would walk in being the 3rd or possibly 4th best starter(currently)
bsteady7
Yup
anthodan
They would if Texas will.
tsc32
They will if they want Darvish. Buehler is exactly the type of prospect JD needs to get for the teams ace and the best pitcher on the market. You may not like it but it’s true. The bright side for the Dodgers is I think they’d have a really good shot at re-signing him
jmcossio87
Dodgers just hung up the phone.
jmcossio87
If Dodgers are going to give up Buehler or/and Verdugo they may as well go for Sonny Gray. Theyre not going to give up either of those top 2 for a couple months of Darvish. Lol c’mon!
ty h.
They would trade I think, they’re tired of being really good then choking in the playoffs. Darvish gives them a better chance to change that. I hope they give up verdago or beuhler bc that’s what it’ll take to get him.
rycm131
At best.
myaccount
I mean, look at the haul Chapman commanded last year.
jhowe82
Haha
thebare
That was a bad trade for the Cubs Hector Rondon was fine till he lost his confidence when Happy came and we let Cashman cheat us out of Torres And made sure Warren and Chapman knew they where going back to the Apple.( preplanned )
jmcossio87
And McCarthy
dodgerfan711
Na fam just cause you gutted your farm system last season means someone will bail you out.
a1544
Lol top prospects for 10 ER outings
Sibert18
Didn’t know value was based solely off last start. Will you take him for bubble gum please???
xabial
Be careful, my friend. I tried arguing his trade value took a hit because of that 10 ER outing which raised his ERA from 3.44 to 4.01 and didn’t help it was his last outing of the season before the trade deadline.
I was down-voted and refuted like there’s no tomorrow and I wasn’t even looking to pick a fight! Darvish is a bonifide ace (and my favorite pitcher) but how can we not admit that 10 ER outing lowered Darvish’s trade value even by a little? Objectively speaking ofc.
Jean Matrac
Because it’s a small sample, which happens to even the best pitchers, yes Kershaw too. It won’t have much of an effect on how GMs evaluate him.
nolanryan77
To say that a gm won’t try and use the 10 ER start to try and lower darvishs value isn’t foolish that’s just smart. You always want to get the best value possible either way. but to say that one start will lower his value is stretch for sure.
Priggs89
What if it’s 2 bad starts this month instead of 1? Didn’t he give up 7 in 4 innings like 3 or 4 starts ago?
tylerall5
Sure rival GMs will want to use his last outing as a means of lowering his price, but the Rangers know they are giving teams a bonafide ace who can carry teams to the playoffs. Rangers will get a haul.
thebare
See his next start he feels not wanted
gammaraze
The idea that a 10 ER outing is laughable for top prospect returns means that an average pitcher that manages a no-hitter should be given a $200M 6 year contract…
cincyfan5
Homer bailey got 100
mixtecamictlan
Im here in Round Rock waiting for the Prospects. I expect one of the following. Houston Tucker but he in AA but I could drive to San Antonio and watch him Vs the Missions. 2 NYY Torres, Dodgers I want Verdugo or Alvarez. Now if the dark horse Cubs do it I know it will include Ian Happ
bsteady7
You re not getting Ian hApp for a rental
tsc32
Then you are not getting Darvish
thegreatcerealfamine
Come to Scranton to see Yankee prospects!
xabial
And So it begins
jdgoat
So get your 5 top prospects ready lol
ttinsley1434
Lol is right. Not gonna happen.
Whyamihere
All of a teams’ top 5 prospects? So he’s going to be a Royal?
Brixton
I don’t think hes going to be as big of a draw as we might expect.
woolcorp
He is highly overrated.
Brixton
I don’t exactly believe that, hes really good, despite middling results this year, however the market just isn’t that good. Who really has a chance at him that makes sense? LAD and Houston? Cubs already burned their resources, Red Sox too.
Yankees and Brewers shouldn’t be after big time rentals.
tsc32
LAD, MIL, WAS, NYY, CHC, COL, HOU
Plenty of good prospects in those systems. Cubs probably have next to no shot but let them in on the fun to make other teams offers higher
Sibert18
Guy with highest k/9 in history is over rated… Sounds legit
chesteraarthur
Highest k/9 in history using what sample? Cuz Jose Fernandez has him beat for single season and career.
Sibert18
I guess min 500-700IP. Wasn’t aware of JF stats, saw the claim by someone else. Nonetheless still ridiculous stat and saying he’s overrated is kinda funny
frankiegxiii
I think Yu Darvish is a badass pitcher, love the movement on his pitches, but it’s a little early to say he has the highest k/9 in history. He hasn’t passed 1000 IP yet and has only pitched 5 seasons in MLB. I myself think of Randy Johnson as the strikeout king. Also I think he meant Darvish is overrated as of right now. I don’t believe he is overrated, but I also don’t think he is going to fetch what all the Rangers fans think he’s gonna get, at least not if he’s sent to the Dodgers. Andrew Friedman wants to keep his prospects, he’s gonna try his damnedest to get what he can for as cheap as he possibly can.
Brixton
Except strikeouts don’t determine a pitchers value/profile. Yeah, they help, but Marco Estrada is 18th in K rate this year and has an ERA of 5.43
chesteraarthur
Yeah, I’ve heard that claim made before by people, which is why i knew that it wasn’t true unless you change the sample to eliminate fernandez.
Yu Darvish has been really good in his career, but he is less awesome this year. So I think, depending on how you rate him, .he could be over rated.
If you are trying to say he’s the same pitcher he has been in the past, this season, I think you could make a valid argument that you are over rating him and his production this season. And since a team that is trading for him will only be acquiring this season, they are surely going to take into consideration his down tick in effectiveness when deciding how they rate him.
chesteraarthur
Randy Johnson is 5th in k/9 among pitchers with > 1000 innings.
fangraphs.com/leaderssplits.aspx?splitArr=42&…
frankiegxiii
I know, I looked it up, I just think he’s the strikeout king because I believe athletes are getting harder and harder to strikeout as time goes on, Randy’s multiple 300 k seasons and the fact that it happened not too long ago make him the strikeout king for me
chesteraarthur
Strike outs are actually up over baseball, so it’d stand to reason it’s easier to strike someone out.. I was just providing the list of k/9 in case you were curious though. wasn’t trying to change your opinion, you can think whoever is, it’s a very subjective thing.
frankiegxiii
You’re right, strikeout rates have steadily risen for the past twenty plus years, just looked it up.
KnicksFanCavsFan
What is he now? That’s what I’m paying for.
Jean Matrac
He has a career ERA+ that’s the same as King Felix and Max Scherzer. His career ERA+ is higher than David Price, Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Stephen Strasburg, and Jon Lester.
Yeah, “highly overrated”. Ridiculous.
OnlyRaysFan
Not only does he have a lengthy injury history, but he is also struggling this year and is a rental. He has been good in his career, but the present is more important than the past
Brixton
yes, lets use stats from 4-5 years ago to talk about his value as a 2 month rental. He has a 3.75 ERA, 3.61 FIP and 122 ERA+ over the last 2 years, very good, but hardly a shut down ace-level production
1738hotlinebling
I’m completley on side with Brixton here, I think my Royals could snag him for Dozier, Griffin and maybe DeWees and another aa pitcher
Jean Matrac
A 122 ERA+ over the past 2 years puts him equal to the career averages of Bumgarner, Cueto and Greinke.
Brixton
so one stat puts him close to three pitchers’ careers (even though Greinke and Cueto have had some mediocre years that offset their stats a little bit). cool.
Jean Matrac
Name a pitcher other than Kershaw that hasn’t had a mediocre year. ERA+ is park adjusted, so it’s more germane than many other stats.
Sort of a kind of a cheap shot really, instead of facts (stats), but whatever sparky.
Brixton
but you’re comparing career statistics vs a short sample size, then saying that those pitchers are on the same level. You’re saying Grienke and Darvish are on the same level because Darvish’s ERA+ over the last two years is the same as Greinke’s ERA+ for his career, yet you’re neglecting the fact that Greinke wasn’t a TOR pitcher until his 5th full season, one of those being a 5.80 ERA over 180 innings.
Jean Matrac
Actually, I was comparing only career stats. You’re the one wanting to talk about last 2 years because of the TJS, or only this season. Greinke has a 161 ERA+ this season, but a 123 ERA+ for the past 2 seasons, Gambling that Greinke will not regress from this season would not be smart.
woolcorp
He’s a fantastic THROWER. He’s pitches have insane movement and life. But mentally is where he fails over and over. He tries to get too cute and paint the corners in situations where it doesn’t make sense.
ty h.
True dat
tacohole
Toronto could probably headline a package with Refsnyder
dug
I don’t think Texas wants to include the prospects with Yu to get him.
Connorsoxfan
Not even sure Texas has the prospect capital for him. They could offer their entire top 30 and Toronto would hang up before even giving a response.
Connorsoxfan
Texas doesn’t even have enough prospects to include. Toronto wouldn’t accept Darvish plus their entire top 30 for Refsnyder.
stymeedone
Oh, come on! Profar added to the deal should help. He’s been a poor man’s version of Refsnyder.
frankiegxiii
Maybe if they threw in Beltre they could land him?
ABCD
Ha! That one came out your ass like Chipotle!
TheGreatTwigog
You being sarcastic?
cincyfan5
He’s making fun of all the Yankees fans on this site… haha
xabial
Guess Refsnyder’s the new “rave reviews”. Oh well. least both fads somewhat Yankee Oriented. Sadly, unlike ‘Rave reviews’ I don’t see this one lasting.. Crazy fan trade ideas come from fans of all teams. Try to let them down gently
willi
LA here we come !
Thronson5
As much as I would love for my Dodgers to trade for this guy I think they’ll want too much but I am confident we will get Verlander or Gray. I think the Yankees will end up with Darvish.
norcalblue
Yu is the only one of these three that I think Friedman has any interest in. Gray will also be more expensive because he is not a rental.
I do not believe that Friedman will be willing to give up any of Bueller, Alvarez or Verdugo to pick up a two month rental. If Rangers holdout for one of these three, I am sensing, there will not be a deal.
Other than the two FO’s no one knows what will go down and at this point they don’t really know. We’re all speculating. This is just my best guess.
Thronson5
I use hate the guessing game lol want the Dodgers to make a move again. Can’t sit through another Stewart start lol. Think we are right there to finally get to the big series but a top notch starter and reliver would push us over the edge and seeing other teams around get better is a little scary because who knows how long we can play at this leveln
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
See I feel the exact opposite. I think they understand that Alvarez is going to be quite a project and the red flags seem similar to those they’ve traded in the past. Not to mention White’s accession along with Santana’s showing. So really Alvarez throws really hard and has a nasty slider, but a two pitch pitcher with struggling command calls for a bp role. So yes their untouchable would be Buehler. Verdugo probably goes in the right package but beyond that they’ve shown a willingness to trade guys that get jumped on the depth chart.
Matt Galvin
Dodgers with a Bullpener and Gomez going back for Top Prospects and so on?
Surprise Team Rays because have Malix Smith who could also get you Gray.
partyatnapolis
his last start sure didn’t help his stock… a so so season in a walk year.. i wouldn’t sell the farm for him
guardianangel
it was an F you to brocail. he had two strikes on each hitter in the 4th. Hamels has had it with brocail also. look at how Dyson has done since leaving. he has tried to take a sinker staff and force them to throw inner third 4 seamers
partyatnapolis
that’s true. brocail is not a good fit for that club
CursedRangers
Agreed. Maddox leaving the Rangers was the worst thing that has happened to them.
jdgoat
Let’s be realistic here. David Price got back Daniel Norris, a top prospect; Matt Boyd, a MLB ready arm who projected to be a bottom of the rotation pitcher. There might also have been some filler guys.
Johnny Cueto got back Brandon Finnegan, top prospect and MLB ready, and a couple lower level prospects.
Why are ranger fans being so unrealistic and expecting multiple top 100 guys?
Brixton
Cueto, Price and Hamels, among others, were all on the market at the same time. Darvish is by himself, but even then, I don’t see much of a market
guardianangel
Why so much less than aroldis?
Brixton
Chapman was a glorious overpay that anyone with slight prospect knowledge could see. The Cubs needed that one piece to win the world series, and would basically do anything to get it.
Expecting a deal of that magnitude as the norm is misguided, seeing as no one else even came close to that for a reliever.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
10, 20 or 30 years of desperation is not the same as 108 years of desperation.
Sibert18
While not a good comparison assuming another team won’t overpay is just as silly IMO
Brixton
What team is going to desperately overpay? No one NEEDS him. He might not even start in the playoffs for the Dodgers.
Wood, Kershaw and Hill are all having better years
Sibert18
I’m not saying desperately over pay but over pay is reasonable. Kershaw is injured, who’s to say his comeback will be smooth. Meanwhile Hill is a China doll and has only pitched 70 innings. Also you can’t do a rotation of only 3 guys, saying he wouldn’t start is moronic at best
Brixton
playoffs rotations are historically 3 guys, and you don’t need to overpay for your 4th best starter. and yeah.. Hill and others can get hurt, but then again Darvish had TJ, and hasn’t thrown anywhere close to a full season since 2013
Aril
why overpay for Yu i think if we offer our top 3 to Tampa we can trade for Archer if we are going to use the farm we shouldnt do it for a rental
Brixton
Archer isn’t going anywhere lol
norcalblue
Yup
Aril
for the top 3 of LA and some other pieces i think Tampa could do it, they dont have a chance this year, they can build for the future Buehler and Verdugo are almost mlb ready, im against trade any of our top 3 but if our FO will do it at least shouldnt be for a rental
Sibert18
Archer has been in basically ZERO rumors, get with the times my boy
Aril
I think anything can happen if you get a great offer you make a deal, if Tampa see the Dodgers trading their best prospects and they like it they can make a trade is the same with Yu Rangers will trade Him for the best package they get offered, if they get a lower package than the mentioned here that mean any team give more than that
frankiegxiii
Archer is under control and for cheap, I agree with Brixton that he isn’t going anywhere, but if he was available he would be very expensive because he wouldn’t be a rental
frankiegxiii
Nvm, thought you meant our 3rd best prospect instead of our three best prospects, my bad, read that wrong
frankiegxiii
I thought Tampa was going for the wild card
brucebochyisthemarlboroman
I wouldn’t consider Darvish “by himself” by any means with Sonny Gray on the market also.
Brixton
Thats a fair point, but they are definitely in different markets.
Gray could be chased by any fringe contender with hopes of helping them this year, and if that doesn’t work, you retain him. Darvish is a rental, leading his market somewhat dry.
brucebochyisthemarlboroman
I can see where you’re going as it stands with him being really the only true rental starter. I also didn’t include Verlander in the market cause no one is taking that contract.
brucebochyisthemarlboroman
Unless of course Lance Lynn becomes available.
Brixton
different level of pitchers. Thats like saying Mike Leake and Jon Cueto were available at the same time. They were, but hardly the same level of talent/demand.
Phillies2017
Thing with Hamels was the amount of control he had left. Thats why he got back Williams, Alfaro, Thompson and Eickhoff (and Asher, but lol)
Modified_6
I’m still upset about losing Williams… not as upset as losing Brinson and Tate, but upset.
Williams was called up recently, no?
stymeedone
So Gray, and Verlander being on the market, at the same time, doesn’t count because… that’s right, the team that trades for them actually get to keep them a few years. The proposals for rental Yu have been in the same range as Gray would command, and probably more than Verlander would.
dugdog83
Norris and Boyd suck they both had stints back in minors, they are not MLB ready and neither look like they will improve.
On the other hand Tigers traded Cespedes for a lower pitching prospect coming off TJ surgery named Michael Fulmer so you never know.
As a Tiger fan I’m rooting for JV to get a better haul than Yu but we are in similar boats here Rangers fans.
jdgoat
Not at the time though. I was so disappointed when I found out Norris was going to Detroit.
melfman1
Stay clear Yanks… we don’t need a rental, we need a long term rotation piece.
P.S. The Refsnyder jokes are getting really friggin’ old at this point. They stopped being funny about a week ago.
Modified_6
I liked the one (or 6) about trading Tor top 30 prospects for him.
jeffblanchard40
I don’t really see the hype for him. He doesn’t go deep into games. I think the return for him is going to be “underwhelming” for the rangers
Dalton1017
Also Darvish averages ove 6 innings per game… has gone over 6 innings 11 times this season
Sibert18
For his career he averages almost 6 2/3 innings, that’s about the same as Kershaw… Might want to double check facts
sufferforsnakes
Bottom line……he’s a rental. Only the desperate will trade for him.
Jean Matrac
I think any team that thinks they’re one starter short of going deep into the PS would be willing to rent, desperate or not.
dust44
The Yankees should b trying to trade Ells for Verlander. C if they bite. Add in a sweetener like a middle tier prospect.
Bruin1012
That is so funny there is no way Tigers trade Verlander for a far worse contract. Verlander isn’t going anywhere unless some team gives up good prospects for him. He is worth far more to Detroit then Ellsbury and a middling prospect.
Dalton1017
… they won’t bite
ctguy
Yankees don’t need to be stuck with Verlander’s contract.
cincyfan5
Refsnyder?
Dalton1017
I think the Rangers will pair Darvish and Kela for a nice size deal
yankeefan4564
i think this could be the deal the national do rizzo doesn’t want part with multiple top guys this could be their year not every you 4 potenial mvp candidates in the voting
brucebochyisthemarlboroman
I have a feeling that the rangers would want Robles in any potential deal for Darvish. Rizzo is just depleting that farm into mediocrity for futility at the big league level.
Dalton1017
I think the Rangers would want kieboom and Fede
max l
Rizzo has 2 seasons: This year and 2018 because the team goes back to average again in 2019. That’s why I had no problem with Rizzo trading Lopez & Giolito for Eaton (I would’ve liked to get back Robertson as well though). I wouldn’t do it, but I’d completely understand Robles & Fedde for Gray. Toronto says he’s untouchable, but I wouldn’t mind giving Toronto Fedde, Robles, Stevenson and Goodwin/Taylor/Difo for Osuna. Play to win! You never know how the prospects will play out. Do you think Cubs fans care how Torress’ career plays out?? Hell no, because it got them a World Series! I’m sure Indians fans would like to have Frazier in the OF in 2018 or 2019, but Miller got them to a World Series, and he’s there for a year and a half more to potentially win them one, I think Indians fans can live without Frazier since without Miller, the Indians likely lose to Boston in the ALDS. If Gray, or Osuna, or Darvish, or Wilson or whoever won the Nats the World Series I don’t care WHO Rizzo gives up or how their careers ended up going because the Nats would have won a World Series.
cincyfan5
Well said
CompanyAssassin
Come hither, Darvish, the Dodgers will enjoy you.
Phillies2017
Darvish CAN net a Top prospect but let’s not get ahead of ourselves and say that he’s gonna cost 5 top prospects.
As a rental I would expect 1 Top-100, 1 B prospect and an additional piece. Remember, the Rangers could just give him a QO and get a comp pick so teams will have to pony up a little, but let’s not get too crazy.
Just an an example (not making predictions here)
But I would expect a package to look something like this using LAD as they have been connected
1.) Alvarez or Calhoun (Don’t think they give up Buehler or Verdugo for a rental)
2.) A guy like Dennis Smith, Gavin Lux, Starling Heredia or Brock Stewart (50 fv guy)
3.) A guy like Devin Smeltzer (Yup, exactly- you probably won’t know much about the third piece. He’s a pitcher for the Quakes)
I feel like this is a win/win. Obviously Its a guess- but based on reports of how Friedman probably isn’t dealing Buehler or Verdugo, this is what I came up with.
Aril
i think Stewart is nearly untouchable, hes important to the bullpen this year
Phillies2017
Yea, Ive heard a lot about that. I was moreso just using him because I was thinking more tht type of piece. Like a 10-15 in the org guy.
stymeedone
Due to his defensive issues, I can’t see Calhoun being a centerpiece of any trade.
yankeefan4564
nat get yu
ranger get kieboom baustisa nic banks couple lottery tickets
Brixton
nats have 3 guys who are already better
Jean Matrac
Right, Gio is better. Cherry-picking 2017 when he’s having a career year? Rangers would turn down a straight up trade between the 2.
Brixton
when you’re talking about a two month rental, current season statistics are more important than career averages, yeah. Who cares what they did, its all about how well they’re going right now.
Jean Matrac
I don’t think GMs look at small samples. Career stats provide the biggest sample which provides a base line. Stats will always progress or regress to the mean. That’s why GMs will think less of the 10 ERs in his last start than they will what he’s done over his career or since the TJS.
max l
IF the Nats trade for a starter it’ll probably be for someone with control through at least next year. Ross will be out most if not all of next year with TJ surgery, and the starting pitchers they have in the minors have proven they can’t cut it at the major league level. Maybe Fedde changes that narrative…
cbf82
I want the Rangers to rebuild as much as anybody but its still a punch to the gut when it actually happens.. Sigh, good luck Yu!!
sportznut1000
i dont understand why we dont see more trades like the one the yankees and whitesox pulled off earlier. ill use this yu darvish potential deal with a team like the dodgers as an example. so the rangers would want one of their untouchables but the dodgers wont move one for a 2 month rental. so then why dont the rangers package kela and another player of value to the dodgers in return for one of the elite prospects. the giants traded nunez to the sox for a couple low tier prospects. why not package nunez with strickland and cueto for a top 5 prospect? seems like its typically 1 major leaguer for a couple prospects and both sides argue over how good the prospects are
dug
The rangers do trades like that when buying. Nellie Cruz was the extra in the Carlos Lee trade, Diekman came with Hamels, and Jeffress with Lucroy. I could easily see them giving up relievers if it helps the return. LAD needs a lefty, maybe add Claudio.
ntmartin2010
Claudio is for sure out of the picture. They would ship Kela or Bush way before even thinking about Claudio
dug
I thought that too at first. I think it depends on if TX wants to rebuild or retool. If they lean more towards rebuilding, there is no reason to keep him. But if they want to try again next year, I don’t think they’d offer him.
gammaraze
I have a hard time thinking that with 4 more years of control, they’d be willing to give up Claudio
ntmartin2010
Given that Daniel’s is a garbage GM, I see them in a retool mode more than a rebuild, Unfortunately. Daniel’s will want to cater to Beltre’s potential last season and try to win it for him as a Ranger, which means possibly dishing out the very prospects we get for a trade piece at next years deadline…smh
dug
I thought the same thing. I could see JD trading all the rentals for prospects, then turning back around and trading for guys signed through next year to try stay competitive.
mixtecamictlan
Sometimes for a better prospect will depend on supply and demand and or how much of the salary the team trading willing to take.
Aril
I only saw in articles Dodgers giving up 2 of our top 4 for Yu, what need the Cubs, Astros, Yankees to match that offer?
Phillies2017
They’d be dumb to give up 2 of the top 4 for a rental. Heck, they’d be dumb to give up either of the top 2 IMO.
Aril
i think the same but in mlb . com says Dodgers need give up 2 of the top 4
AvidAstrosFan
Yu has just as large of chance at being a ranger as a rental.
Voice of Reason
Darvish will be a Dodger. They will not let him get away.
Phillies2017
I agree. I think the Astros ultimately get Gray and the Yanks settle for Jaime Garcia (as reported today that he’s the fallback).
Dodgers just make the most sense for Darvish.
diehardcubfan 2
They won’t get their asking price and he will stay with the Rangers.
beard
How the heck do the Dodgers, Astros, or Nats make sense for this trade? They would all be in the playoffs without making any moves. The only thing Darvish gives them is a few (if they are lucky) playoff starts. I know playoffs are the playoffs but 1 (or more) top prospects is an AWFUL lot to give up for a couple starts. Especially considering some of the clunkers Darvish has turned in this year (see his most recent start). The only way this makes sense is if Kershaw or Strasburg is less healthy than is being lead on and they are a serious question for the post-season.
Going to the Yankees, or Cubs, or a team that actually has to fight their way into the post season seems a lot more valuable.
mixtecamictlan
If teams want to go all out to win it they will pay. The astros have not won a World Series the dodgers last was 88, the Yankees want to be relevant again call it the B..J. Era before Jeter Era.
thegreatcerealfamine
Yankees personify relevancy..WTF?
Cubsfan
Cubs do not trade for darvish. I would get verlander still has two years left on contract, plus Cubs would not have to keep up profile prospects. Detroit please eat up some of his salary. Let’s get it done.
ntmartin2010
If Keone Kela is included with Yu, Rangers would net for sure two of the Dodgers big 4 (Verdugo, Buehler, Alvarez, Calhoun), plus one high A baller, and mid-to-low tier prospects. Kela is a solid reliever with 3 years left on his contract and his stats this season are 2.51 ERA, .928 WHIP and 12.2 SO/9.
Tim Garrow
would brewers be bold enough to try and get Darvish and Kela for Ray , Ortiz and a lower level prospect.
Granted Darvish is rental and Kela is not a free agent until 2020. So you may not have to give up the farm?
Rotation and bullpen fix for a serious playoff push , it’s not guaranteed in the future Brewer faithful.
tsc32
As a ranger fan I wouldn’t be super pumped about a 22yo in A ball being the headlining piece to be honest. And that’s before considering his .235 avg and 112 K’s in 79 games at the level this season
ntmartin2010
For Lewis Brinson back, ya haha