Rangers Paying $111 Million
You will see the $60 million dollars that the Rangers signed Darvish for and think it was a good deal but when evaluating the deal you have to add in the $51.7 million the Rangers will be paying the Nippon-Ham Fighters. The total cost to the Rangers for Darvish will be $111.7 million dollars when all is said and done.
Yu Darvish
The Rangers are getting a 25-year old pitcher who was 18-6 in Japan last year with a league-leading 1.44 ERA and 276 strikeouts. He had super control as he walked just 36 batters in 232 innings. Darvish should be in the prime of his career with the Rangers as even though he is 25 years old, he started his pro career when he was 18. He went 93-38 with a 1.99 ERA in his Japanese career. "The biggest impression I got, or the most surprising thing that I saw, was how big he is," said pitching coach Mike Maddux, "He's big."
Rangers Rotation
Even though Darvish is replacing C.J. Wilson in the rotation it will probably be Colby Lewis who starts the season as the #1 starter followed by Darvish. The Rangers will need a big year by Darvish after losing Wilson to the Angels in free agency. Lewis and Darvish are already know each other as Lewis pitched in Japan a few years ago before coming to the Rangers. "If you're able to throw strikes, pound the strike zone and get guys out, it doesn't matter what league you play in," Lewis said, "If you can command the fastball and do what you need to do to get guys out, you can have success here too. He has overpowering stuff, especially in that league over there.”
Texas Rangers betting last year was very successful as the Rangers won 96 games while losing just 66. With the addition of Darvish, the Rangers could be a team to wager on again in 2012.
