Cubs Eyeing Yu Darvish As Rangers Make Him Available

Well, yesterday, Yu Darvish was expected to stay with Texas for the remainder of the season, setting up what looked like an exciting offseason for the impending free agent. But over the course of 24 hours, the Rangers have had a change of heart, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Darvish has a 3.44 ERA with a 9.65 K/9 in 21 games so far season, and is two years removed from Tommy John surgery, which always creates drama when a player is involved in trade talks. Rumors came out last week that the Rangers were gauging interesting in the 30-year-old starter, as the team contemplated moving the Japanese super-star to counter-act the loss the club would take if Darvish were to jump ship this offseason. However, in Crasnick's report, he says the Rangers feel they can re-sign Darvish. According to one of my sources, who is close with members in the Ranger's front office and scouting department, the gut feeling within the organization is that Yu Darvish is likely gone after this season.

While that could just be the opinion of a few individuals, if the Rangers are not confident in their current roster, they should be trying to move Darvish for some type of return - even if they are only 3.5 games back of the Royals for a Wild Card spot. For the Cubs, who were the team that finished second in the bidding process for Darvish when he officially moved from the NPB to the MLB, they would love to add the electric right hander. However, the Cubs would seem like the team that can offer the least enticing packaged, compared to what teams like the Dodgers, Astros, or Yankees could offer, who were all rumored to be interested according to Crasnick. But that does not mean every team will just throw players at the Rangers to trade for him, no word on the asking price, but Darvish is a rental and no team is going to make a knee-jerk decision to acquire the Ranger's starter for three months.

I have heard the Rangers have been drawn to Cubs starter Trevor Clifton, who has a 4.20 ERA in double A Myrtle Beach. The Rangers like him so much they reportedly leaked the news of Darvish's availability to entice the Cubs to get involved in the bidding war. Maybe the Cubs can sell the Rangers on the high ceiling of some of their lesser known prospects?

Regardless, the Cubs will still pursue Darvish when he comes a free agent from whichever team he finishes the season with. And while the Rangers are saying they will move their ace for the 'right price', I have a feeling they won't like the initial offers. And if Texas slips further away from a favorable Wild Card position, they could be the one who make a knee-jerk move, giving the Cubs and the other teams involved some leverage. The longer the Cubs wait, the more likely it is they can acquire Darvish at the deadline, and I fully expect the Rangers to take their time with this move.