Late last week the Texas Rangers reportedly began gauging interest to determine the trade market for right-hander Yu Darvish. At the time of the report, the Rangers were in the midst of their second five-game losing streak this season.
Darvish helped play the role of stopper, however, and Texas enters play Monday on a modest three-game winning streak. They remain well out of the American League West race — 17 games back of the Houston Astros — but are only 2.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot.
Amid speculation of Darvish being available, the Los Angeles Dodgers are among the teams with reported interest in the 30-year-old.
However, the Dodgers, along with others, are being told by the Rangers that Darvish is not on the trading block, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports:
The Texas #Rangers continue to tell teams that Yu Darvish is not available. At this time. Big week for #Rangers future.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 24, 2017
The Chicago Cubs and Dodgers had scouts in attendance for Darvish’s start last week. He turned arguably his best outing of the season, holding the Tampa Bay Rays to three runs on five hits, while collecting a season-high 12 strikeouts.
If the Rangers were to trade Darvish to the Dodgers, it’s believed they’d expect two of Yadier Alvarez, Walker Buehler, Willie Calhoun and Alex Verdugo in return. Los Angeles to this point has shown a reluctance to part with the organization’s elite prospects.
Further reducing the likelihood of the Dodgers sending out a package with one or more of their top Minor Leaguers is Darvish may only be a three-month rental as he’s eligible for free agency this offseason.
What may impact the Dodgers’ stance is the expectation Clayton Kershaw will miss at least one month due to a back injury.
