The Texas Rangers continue to maintain their position as one of the more intriguing, perhaps frustrating, teams as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches. Specifically, as it pertains to Yu Darvish.
The Rangers reportedly began to gauge the market for interest in their right-handed ace, which predictably appeared to be relatively strong. The Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers are among the teams that have been connected to the 30-year-old.
A modest three-game winning streak that put the Rangers back into the hunt for the American League Wild Card Game was said to have cooled the team’s interest in potentially trading Darvish.
While Texas has won four of their last five games, they’re just 4-6 in the last 10, though only 3.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot.
Nonetheless, the Rangers reportedly are engaged in trade talks centered around Darvish, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports:
Source: Rangers continue to engage in trade conversations on Yu Darvish, although they haven't made buy/sell decision. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 26, 2017
It should be noted Darvish holds a limited no-trade clause, which does not include the Astros or Dodgers, but blocks a deal with the Cubs and nine others, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Yu Darvish’s 10-team no-trade list, per sources: BAL, BOS, CHC, CLE, COL, CWS, DET, OAK, PIT, TOR. Free to go to LAD, NYY, HOU, all others.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 26, 2017
Darvish is scheduled to take the mound Wednesday night against the Miami Marlins in what could be his final start this season for the Rangers. Reported as factoring into the team’s thinking is the possibility of trading Darvish ahead of the deadline and re-signing him during the offseason.
Darvish is a four-time All-Star over five seasons with the Rangers. He missed all of 2015 due to undergoing Tommy John surgery. Darvish is 6-8 with a 3.44 ERA, 3.83 FIP and 1.12 WHIP in 21 starts.
He ranks ninth in the Majors (fourth in the AL) with 143 strikeouts, tied for eighth overall with 133.1 innings pitched, and 14th with a 2.5 WAR (FanGraphs).
Darvish is the type of ‘top-notch’ starter the Dodgers reportedly are looking to trade for but as a rental, may be deemed to steep of a cost in terms of prospect capital.
