The Texas Rangers won the rights to negotiate with star Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish by placing a record $51.7 million bid in a posting auction, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Darvish’s team in Japan, the Nippon Ham Fighters, will accept the bid, which means the Rangers have 30 days to negotiate a contract with Darvish. If they cannot work out a deal, Darvish would return to Japan for the 2012 season and the Rangers would be refunded the posting fee.
On November 12th, we said we’d bid $53 million for him. We came very, very close to the actual figure. In fact, we would have won the bid by a slight amount. Not bad, wouldn’t you say?
The Yankees, however, remain content with CC and the Pixie Dust Four.
77 Comments
Buttered Bread December 20, 2011 00:36
Brian Cashman, Director of Sitting on His Ass.
Joba's Dad December 20, 2011 00:50
He’s gunna have to fight me for that title.
Laura Posada December 20, 2011 02:58
I’ll make sure you get out of that chair….I wanna be chased by Chief Joba Sr.
Joe Pawl December 20, 2011 21:29
I’ll smoke Harlans peace pipe….
Bexy December 22, 2011 16:11
I’ll smoke yours.
K im Last December 23, 2011 12:49
Smoke my lumps.
Hiroki Kuroda December 20, 2011 00:45
Or maybe they’re waiting for me! I make better shrimp tempura than that half Iranian dude
Nathan December 20, 2011 00:47
The Yankees going cheap and not willing to spend.
Hell is freezing over.
Mandingo December 20, 2011 00:52
I can’t believe how much money is being on spent on him. He’s never played in the MLB.
Pete C. December 20, 2011 06:41
You got that right.
After watching Hideki Irabu (Grhs) turn into Upperdeki. And Dice k (or whatever the fuck those cretins in Boston call him,) flame out. Lets not forget the iron beaver, a.k.a. Kei Igawa.
The Yanks are supposed to drop 50+ mil, to the team that holds his “rights”, then whatever the fuck he wants for a contract. And this slope hasn’t thrown a ball at a major league hitter yet.
I’m not saying anything about sour grapes, but let’s remember one thing. When GS ran things the team would get ridiculed for getting someone like him and spare no expense. Who remembers Ed Whitson’s melt down or the bag of spare parts they got for Jay Beuhner. Countless other moves that set the club back.
Has anyone thought about what the other starters are going to do when this guy who cost all this money sight unseen, throws his first stinker? Think CC’s gonna wish he opted out for more?
Uncircumsized penis December 20, 2011 09:13
“Whatever the fuck he wants for a contract” — this is absolutely false. The Rangers have all the leverage now.
Nasty Nate December 20, 2011 09:37
All the leverage? I’m pretty sure Darvish has all the leverage considering he can say “This is what I want and if you don’t give it to me I’ll just go back to Japan.” The Rangers don’t have any leverage here.
Pete C. December 20, 2011 21:50
Precisely.
Costanza December 24, 2011 11:44
Jay Buehner!
David Cameron December 20, 2011 01:54
We welcome the Yankees to our club
Phil Hughes December 20, 2011 01:57
Don’t worry guys. I’m putting down the bong this offseason and actually working out so that I can be good again.
RoboCop December 20, 2011 02:42
Put down the Funyuns while you’re at it.
Pete C. December 20, 2011 06:44
I thought he was a cheese doodle man?
That and chocolate chip cookies, make a good combo when that urge to eat takes over.
At least that’s what I’ve read.
CC December 20, 2011 13:25
Cap’n Crunch
Jerry Sandusky December 20, 2011 03:03
Come on! Come on!
Brandon December 20, 2011 03:20
That’s a lotta yen for someone who has never thrown a pitch in a major league game.
RimJob Mike December 20, 2011 06:41
$51 mil and they haven’t even paid Yu yet! When all is said and done, 5 years, $110 mil spent (Bid + contract) on a guy that could be Kei Igawa 2. If he’s Hideo Nomo at best they still over paid bad and let C.J. Wilson walk away to the rival Angels for $76 mil.
Doesn’t sound like an upgrade to me.
I hear Edwin Jackson is still available and at an affordable price. If we can give $30 mil to that bum Soriano we can give $30 mil to a reliable starter in Jackson.
Duh December 20, 2011 09:34
Seriously, this is what I don’t get. Even if you feel that Darvish has more upside than Wilson, is it going to be worth an extra $40 million? No way. Ridiculous. Good for us, though … they’ll be saddled with this contract for years.
Serious question December 20, 2011 11:31
If Stephen Strasburg was put up for bidding before he went pro, would you have bid $50+ mil for him?
Taiwanese Man December 20, 2011 12:11
poster Duh no have 50 mirrion dorrars. Arso, I know Yu, and he no Steven Strasburg
Serious Question December 20, 2011 21:25
is your wife still shaved?
Duh December 21, 2011 08:25
No, I wouldn’t have, and Yu Darvish is NOT Steven Strasburg. My point is that while Darvish may in fact prove to be great, even better than CJ Wilson, it isn’t worth that kind of risk to a team like this. The Yankees can laugh off a $50 million posting fee. Texas can not. Big difference.
And while Strasburg has shown early signs of brilliance, the jury is still out. Pitchers burn out. Hitters catch up to them. Injuries happen. Obviously, you have to take chances to be a winning team. My point is simply that with the history of pitchers from Japan and the financial situation of Texas, this was a dumb gamble when they could have just kept Wilson.
Call me Crazy December 20, 2011 12:06
…but he’s crazy if he accepts that deal. If I were him I’d as for two years, $20 mil, or I’d walk and be a free agent in a year. 12 months from now he gets 5 years, $90 million and he gets to keep all the money for himself. Why should he settle for $60 mil this year?
I’m sure he posted hoping the bids would be low.
Makes Sense December 20, 2011 18:26
Yeah, I can totally see the Rangers being cool with a 2/70mm deal for Darvish. Makes sense.
saucY December 21, 2011 11:32
crazy
Sol Rabinowitz December 20, 2011 07:22
Nice to see the Yankees spending money this offseason. I hope they have a Happy Hannukah!!
Perhaps we can sign John Halama, Jamie Moyer, and Steve Avery and shore up this rotation… Im sure we can get a good deal on all of em.. We can just ask for a discount.
TSJC December 22, 2011 16:13
Cracka
Jim Leyritz's Cellmate December 20, 2011 07:39
Bitching aside, I’m quite pleased with this offseason. For once we’re waiting for the all-nude strippers that will blow you in a booth rather than wasting all of our money at the scantily-clad lace club.
Alright, I’m fucking terrible at analogies but my point stands.
Mike Axsia December 20, 2011 09:22
So the other day I was like balls deep in this dudes ass and afterwards he’s all trying to cuddle with me and I was like, “Dude, I ain’t gay, I don’t want to cuddle.”
Oh, we’re live?!?
Ben, I’ll have to snuggle later. Cuddling = Gay, Snuggling = Not.
Mike Axsia here LIVE from the old site of YS2, there is mass panic in Yankeeland after the non-move by Cashman to secure Yu Darvish, a self-proclaimed “once in a generation pitcher”. After seeing Cashman with empty pockets, on this very site, we are all SHOCKED! The only question that remains is will Darvish use his FIRST or LAST name on the back of his jersey?! Stay tuned as I’ll be here all night with some HoBos that need Blows! This has been Mike Axsia, LIVE from a bench in the Bronx!
(Mike proceeds to unwrap the newspaper covering a bum and sucks him to completetion)
For reals December 20, 2011 15:07
The next Mike article on fangraphs. Go comment there. It would be funny.
Rebexarama December 20, 2011 17:13
Where the hell are you, Mike, you said you’d meet me at NYY Steak, do you know I’ve been waiting two hours for your sorry ass, I’ve had to eat seven whole steaks to pass the time!! Now hurry the hell up so I can go home to watch my TiVo’d gay vampire porn and Andy Pettitte Yankeeography.
Kisses: http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1659757317/IMG_0120.JPG
Rebexarama December 20, 2011 18:15
That’s it, I’m done waiting, I’m leaving, expect me to be up all night tweeting about this every twenty minutes and then whine to my nigga TSJC while he gives me some BBC. And comfort eat, I have two whole chocolate cakes waiting for me in my fridge.
Look at my angry face and quake in fear: http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1659757317/IMG_0120.JPG
Joe Pawl December 20, 2011 21:33
I love this zit on the right side of your chin…makes ME HOT,HOT,HOT (Paul Lynde voice)
Mandingo December 20, 2011 09:27
Asians love the big one.
Joe Páwlikowski December 23, 2011 10:44
Me too :)
Kei Igawa all over again December 20, 2011 09:27
This deal will be just as bad as Matsuzaka was for Boston.
Uncircumsized penis December 20, 2011 09:29
Except that Darvish is significantly better in every area than Igawa and Dice-K.
Duh December 20, 2011 09:35
Yes, in Japan, he is. Japan is not America. You are essentially taking a $100+ million flyer on a guy who should be good, but there’s a huge risk that he won’t be great.
Taiwanese Man December 20, 2011 10:43
Every pitcher to come from Jap isrand is touted as the best pitcher ever to pitch over there. It is a vastly inferior reague, srightry better than AAA. If they were smart, they wourd just come over ear-ry and pray AAA and forget wasting time over there. They fuck up arms and get stupid ideas about fitness. Arso, they arr addicted to porno.
Taiwanese Man December 20, 2011 10:49
Read this shit from ESPN http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2669791. Sound famiriar?
The Truth December 20, 2011 10:09
Especially going to the launching pad that is the Ballpark at Arlington. Still the offseason isn’t over trades can happen in January, February and March. Didn’t the Clemens deal get done on the eve of Spring Training?
Peter Gammons December 21, 2011 01:57
But Arlington is nothing compare to DNYS of course.
Routine Ground Ball December 20, 2011 10:12
This offseason is not nearly as bad as everyone is making it out to be. The Yankees are inactive not because they have suddenly become cheap, but because there are no viable options on the board.
Nobody was really advocating for the Yankees to sign CJ Wilson because he has only been a starting pitcher for two years. He is also 32 years old and represents a ton of risk.
The same case can be made for Yu. Though younger, he has only played in Japan and in the WBC. We’ve been relentlessly bombarded with articles highlighting the cultural differences between the two leagues, so I won’t bring them up. However it is not hard to say that Yu represents comparable, if not more risk than CJ.
The Yankees also have alternatives to both Yu and Wilson. They have a rotation of guys that may show improvement in 2012. They have a couple of highly touted arms in their farm system (Banuelos, Betances) and a bunch of legitimate inning eaters with potential upside in AAA (Noesi, Phelps, Mitchhell, Warren). Every Yankee fan is hyper reluctant to trade prospects. Are we ever going to use them? Why root for our team to lock up question markes long term when we have options. Like Wilson, Yu just isn’t worth the risk. I say give some of the kids a chance. I know we shudder at the thought of a “rebuilding year”, but our rotation needs just that. I’d sooner the Yankees have patience and do it the right way.
And If things don’t work out? Well… next year’s free angent class is nasty. It’s stacked with proven pitchers that don’t carry the risks of those that were available this year. Some may be extended, but we’ll have enough to work with when the time comes.
Jerry sandusky December 20, 2011 18:15
We said the same thing last year.
Routine Ground Ball December 20, 2011 21:25
No, last year we put all our eggs in one basket. When Cliff Lee decided against NY, our next best option was Pavano. It was clear the kids wouldn’t be in the show at that point, so we pulled a couple pieces from the scrap heap and got lucky with them.
Plus, the available positions in our rotation brought Nova into form. It also allowed Noesi to get some innings and he is killing it in the Arizona fall league.
Everyone needs to relax, it’s a sport and not the end of the world. Plus, there’s a really good chance the Yankees make the post season again in 2012. It’s not like we’re the Mets.
Eduardo Núñez December 20, 2011 10:18
HA HA
John Lackey December 20, 2011 10:33
What a bunch of idiots. Teams should only give large pitching deals to proven MLB talents like me.
Bexarama December 23, 2011 10:44
I’m uglier than you.
Ted Nelson December 23, 2011 12:31
Not to me, sweet peaches!
How about posting another photo?
Krista Lackey December 20, 2011 11:02
Yes proven to be ugly, fat and only good for five minutes of sex and 5 innings. Up yours you beak nosed piece of shit.
Mandingo December 20, 2011 11:14
Hey baby, you need a ride somewhere? What’s your sign? You know what would really piss off your husband, right?
Lackey's filthy cancer causing sperm December 20, 2011 11:15
Herrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooo!!1
Ethnic punster December 20, 2011 11:32
The Yankees just weren’t willing to roll the Dice, ‘K? Personally I find this move Farsical.
Curved Slightly December 20, 2011 13:28
Mechanics and numbers can be analyzed to death, but one thing that’s overlooked is Darvish’s mental make up. He’s been pretty much untouchable in Japan as his career numbers indicate. How’s he going to handle it when he has a 3 inning, 7 run outing? It’s going to happen, there’s no way around it. His ability to not dwell on a poor outing and make the adjustments needed is something only time will tell.
Mandingo December 20, 2011 14:14
Can he do ESPN commercials. That’s the real question.
ESPN - The Magazine December 20, 2011 18:18
Our cover for our next edition:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0RGP6tpwd68/ScgAjptSROI/AAAAAAAAAew/iPxjPfqMNvQ/s320/mlb_darvish_cover_251.jpg
Brian S. December 20, 2011 18:21
http://nomaas.org/2010/03/philadelphia-daily-news-bill-conlin-responds-to-reader-with-virtual-crotch-grab/
You guys remember this article? Where a Nomaas reader and Philadelphia writer Bill Conlin got in an online argument? Well looks like Conlin hasn’t been doing just some virtual crotch grabbing.
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/12/20/2649884/bill-conlin-resigns-philadelphia-hall-of-fame
Out of Office: Hey Yu December 20, 2011 20:00
Mister Cashman San:
Very much thanks for your interest in Yu’s pitching ability, but as of last week bidding to talk with Yu has closed. From today, Yu will be out of office traveling to the united states of freedom to begin negotiation with Yu’s future teammate, two time AL champ, the honorable Texas Rangers. Yu very much look forward to speaking with hero, Mr. Ryan, and ask him to spend much money for Yu. Consider yourself very fortunate, as there is nothing that suggest Yu any different than Nomo, Irabu, Igawa, or Matsuzaka, except maybe Yu’s Iranian daddy and how much money Yu will make during year of Dragon, Horse, Sheep, and if lucky, Monkey.
Good luck with your search for new pitcher, tell AJ Yu like him very much, and give bow to Igawa from Yu.
Very Much Thanks,
Yu Darvish
SP, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
1, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Hitsujigaoka
TEL 011-857-3939
E-Mail: YuGoBoy@Fighters.co.jp
Moshe Mandel December 20, 2011 20:27
I bought Bexy candy. She ate the box. Then took a dump on my face. It was hot.
Mad fuck Brock Cohen December 20, 2011 21:35
I like her runny shits…lap, lap
the interwebs December 21, 2011 00:33
Two dumbasses and one hippo, one cup.
Ben Bernanke December 20, 2011 22:59
See, austerity sucks! If I ran The Yankees we would buy all the shitty assets now and basically waste a bunch of money in the off chance we got lucky and some of the shit we threw against the wall stuck. If it doesn’t work I’ll be long gone and it will be someone else’s problem.
Mike Axsia December 21, 2011 00:01
BREAKING NEWS!
Bexy gave me the herp, or I gave it to her from all the anonymous blowjobs I’ve been giving out, either way she has both simplex A and B. My last anal pap smear came back irregular and the doctors feel I’ve contracted something nasty that will eventually give me brain disease. Bexy, now that we’ve swapped STDs maybe we can finally settle down and procreate. We’d make some of the most disgusting looking creatures on earth! I was at NYY Steak the other night but I had a guy that refused to cum, in the glory hole in the men’s room, I eventually won and he coated my tonsils. Please Bexy, give me ONE MORE CHANCE!!!
Sensitive RAB Guy December 21, 2011 15:45
You gotta start posting to RAB, or at least Fangraphs
Rebexarama December 21, 2011 18:18
The only one who I’d willingly become pregnant for is Andrew Eugene Pettitte. If you could become pregnant just by watching his Yankeeography, I’d have had at least 5,000 of his babies. So sorry, Mike, but I don’t wanna ever become pregnant, I don’t wanna get fat. Unless, of course, we could somehow make sure that they’re gay vampire sparkly babies.
Let me tweet about this and see what my adoring fans (ie, JoePawl and Moshe) have to say about it.
Rebexarama December 21, 2011 18:20
Oh, and kisses, mr. Editor: http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1659757317/IMG_0120.JPG
Richard Iurilli December 21, 2011 23:29
I’m your biggest fan on Twitter!!
TSJC December 23, 2011 10:46
I’ve made you suck my fatty, punk ass.
Richard Iurilli December 23, 2011 12:33
OK, dont tell mom. She doesnt like the blackies.
Lets meet @ The NY Public Library, Mens Room, Stall #3 tomorrow at 4:00.
noseeum December 21, 2011 13:46
Maybe they just didn’t think he was worth it? Seems like a perfectly valid position to take.
Tie Domi December 21, 2011 18:47
I’m a faggot!
Joe Páwlikowski December 22, 2011 16:12
Does it make you gay if you get a boner watching Brian Cashman speak?