The top free agent starting pitcher finally made a decision recently, as former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yu Darvish reportedly agreed to a six-year, $126 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Losing Darvish to the Cubs is especially tough for the Dodgers considering the two teams have met in each of the last two National League Championship Series. Darvish played a big role in the Dodgers’ win in 2017 as he tossed 6.1 innings of one-run ball in a Game 3 win at Wrigley Field.
One person who has to be disappointed about losing Darvish as a teammate is Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who spent this offseason throwing with the right-hander in Texas.
Kershaw reported to Camelback Ranch for Spring Training on Tuesday and was very honest in saying that he wished Darvish would have gone back to an American League team as opposed to the Cubs, via Pedro Moura of The Athletic:
“I wish he’d gone somewhere in the American League,” Clayton Kershaw said of Yu Darvish. “But, you know, we’ll just have to beat him, I guess.”
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) February 13, 2018
Kershaw previusly made his subtle pitch to Darvish to return to the Dodgers while working out with him offseason, but ultimately the team was not able to move enough money to come close to the Cubs offer due to their desire to remain below the luxury tax threshold.
The Dodgers’ offer to Darvish was believed to be around six years and $100 million although it was contingent on being able to trade Matt Kemp or others in order to ensure the team doesn’t exceed the $197 million luxury tax threshold.
They were unable to make any moves though and with Spring Training just around the corner, Darvish opted to move ahead with the rival Cubs and now could be pitching against the Dodgers in future postseasons.
