Diamondbacks Ponying Up For Darvish

[love_that_reefer]

Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a Sponichi report that the Diamondbacks are preparing $80 million to acquire Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish.
According to Newman, it's unclear whether the amount consists solely of the posting fee or the posting fee and the contract that would be given to Darvish. The Red Sox set a record with a $51.1 million posting fee for exclusive negotiating rights with Daisuke Matsuzaka in November of 2006. He eventually signed a six-year, $52 million contract with the club. Darvish, 24, would attract plenty of interest in the event that he is posted, but some scouts doubt whether he will be a front line starter in the major leagues.

This has disaster written all over it. They could use all that money and build a bullpen worth a damn and that would do a lot more good than spending it on one player who might not be able to hack it. Darvish does have age on his side but $80 million seems like a lot. Name one Japanese pitcher that has worked out? Think about it.

[realmofotalk]

Hiroki Kuroda. Alas, other Japanese pitchers generally have no command of the strike zone.

[love_that_reefer]

Yu Darvish has decided to remain in Japan for at least one more season.
The 24-year-old right-hander was in line for a major payday in the states, but he has decided to remain in his comfort zone instead. Some reports had the Diamondbacks lining up an $80 million offer and that probably would have been matched or topped by another club. Darvish should migrate to the major leagues at some point and projects as a front line starter.

Maybe the Dbacks will make a huge mistake next year