Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Darvish gets 6 years, $60 million from Texas

US Presswire file photo
Yu Darvish could cost the Rangers as much as $121.7 million in the end.
The Rangers and Yu Darvish had a 30-day window to work out a contract. They wound up using 29 days and more than 23 hours to get a deal done.

Darvish agreed to a six-year, $60 million contract with Texas shortly before today's 5 p.m. EST deadline, ending that saga and perhaps paving the way for Prince Fielder to finally sign with some club after a long winter of speculation.

But first, the details of Darvish's deal. He receives the largest package ever handed to a Japanese player, topping the six-year, $52 million contract Daisuke Matsuzaka signed with the Red Sox in 2007. That's on top of the record $51.7 million posting fee that will go to Darvish's former club, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

So that makes the total cost to acquire Darvish $111.7 million ... except, there could still be more. The deal includes up to $10 million in bonuses, according to various reports, so that could bring the grand total to $121.7 million.

Do you know how few pitchers in major-league history have cost more than $111 million? There's CC Sabathia ($161 million), Johan Santana ($137.5 million), Barry Zito ($126 million), Mike Hampton ($121 million) and Cliff Lee ($120 million). And all of those guys had obviously established themselves as successful big leaguers before signing their deals.

By all accounts, Darvish is unlike any pitcher who has ever come out of Japan. Scouts across the board project him as a major-league ace. But at that price, anything less is going to look like a big-time disappointment.

Now, how does this all affect the Fielder saga? The Rangers have been among the primary pursuers of the big first baseman all along and met with him and agent Scott Boras in person last week. But conventional wisdom suggested Texas couldn't make a firm commitment to Fielder until it knew whether the Darvish deal would get done. Now that Darvish has signed, there's nothing stopping the Rangers from engaging in serious negotiations with Fielder.

Can Texas afford Prince after forking over so much money for Darvish? Depends who you ask. Though some in the baseball world have believed there was no way the Rangers would sign both superstars, local beat writers insist it's still a possibility.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports the Rangers "remain interested" in Fielder, though any deal would probably have to be "creative." In other words, they aren't going to give him $200 million over eight years, but they might be willing to give him $150 million over six years with an opt-out clause after three or four years.

At this point, there don't appear to be any clubs willing to meet Boras' lofty demands for Fielder, including the Nationals. The Nats, according to club sources, continue to maintain they would sign Fielder only if his price came way down (particularly in the number of years).

Could that still represent the best offer to Fielder when it's all said and done? Perhaps, though that scenario still appears unlikely.

But one way or another, you've got to believe the finish line to this saga is beginning to come into view.

55 comments:

lesatcsc said...

Interesting...

Let's hope this gets things moving again, one way or the other. I would love to see PF a Nat, but won't lose any sleep if he isn't. I think any moves the Nats may be thinking about depend on settling the PF question. It is the proverbial fork in the road.

NSA flash traffic: Domestic intercepts division said...

[Revised after computer-enhanced reprocessing; updated version]

Scott: Hi, Mike? We'll take it.

Mike: Take what?

Scott: The offer.

Mike: What offer was that?

Scott: The one Mr. Lerner made a couple of weeks ago. Six years, $175 million.

Mike: Scott, you know Mr. Lerner said that offer was only good for 72 hours.

Scott: Yeah, yeah, but that's still your position, right?

((Editor's note: Muffled sounds, possibly coughing or laughter))

Scott: Did you just laugh at me?

Mike: No, no, Scott. Of course not. I'll have to get back to you in a couple of days on this, Scott, but I'm not sure Mr. Lerner will be willing to go that long for that much. Hang tight, Scott.

natsfan1a said...

Great, maybe things will shake loose for other teams' transactions now.

waddu eye no said...

waltz across texas with yu.....

Anonymous said...

Altough we NEED WhenDovesCry here, I think he signs with MIA or SF.


Lipty,

Big Cat said...

Has there been any quotes on exactly what Boras wants in terms of years/money?

Just sayin' said...

I've got to believe that Darvish's signing will actual slow things down -- not speed them up -- in the Fiedler sweepstakes. If you assume that Fielder and Boras will now rethink their approach, moving from 8-10 years down to something like 6 years (with or without an opt-out clause), they will want to convey that not just to the Rangers, Nats, and Mariners, but to virtually the entirety of MLB. And that may well generate some interest that hasn't previously been there, which could lead to an extended period of chats, call-backs, and eventually negotiations. This could well drag on for another two or three weeks.

Just sayin' said...

Remember when Mark wrote that there was no way the Nats were even intersted in the PF Flyer?

JaneB said...

What is wrong with me?!? I've been against Fielder as a Nat from the start. But I checked the Insider to see if Darvish was signed...I'm in a restaurant in Sausalito, a hushed-quiet- we- are-civilized-as-we-drink-the-wine place-- and I just let out a yell to see the Rangers signed him. Because in my covert little heart, that gives US a chance at having TWO Princes: one on first, and one in OppoBoppoland. I guess I have to admit I want us to win the sweepstakes.

Big Oil said...

Remember when we thought that there was no way Riggs would resign after an outstanding series against the M's, but then he did?

MicheleS said...

JaneB...

Can i come with you? I would rather be where you are than stuck in this cold weather and working!

natsfan1a said...

Me, too, MicheleS (and now I'm hungry for some real sourdough bread).

natsfan1a said...

(Now I also have waddu eye no's song choice playing in my head, but I kinda like that one so no worries.)

Gonat said...

Can Texas afford Prince after forking over so much money for Darvish? Depends who you ask. Though some in the baseball world have believed there was no way the Rangers would sign both superstars, local beat writers insist it's still a possibility.
______________________________

Of course it is a possibility. It will also mean if the Rangers were to get Prince they don't re-sign members of their core like Josh Hamilton and maybe Cruz.

Even the Yankees can't get them all.

NatsLady said...

Apparently, Josh Hamilton can play CF.

2011 Games By Position: DH (9), CF (50), LF (96)

Anonymous8 said...

Q: Any more acquistions?

Jon Daniels said, "I don't expect that we'll do anything big the rest of the off-season."

Q: What are your chances of signing Prince Fielder? [laughter]

Jon Daniels said, "It's very unlikely."

Constant Reader said...

So I'll start the pool ...

Date he signs, team, years, amount, opt-out or not.

Jan 31
San Francisco
Six year
$140M
Opt out at year 3

NatsLady said...

So, who would you rather have, Fielder or Hamilton? I mean, the Nats, not Texas. Of course, JH is under contract for 2012 but he is a free agent next year

Gonat said...

NatsLady, Hamiltion has had injuries and missed substantial time. Based on that I take Matt Kemp because Fielder doesn't play the OF.

Anonymous said...

Hamilton can play CF barely and only if you're OK with the guy missing as many games as he plays. The guy has to be in a corner where he can have a better chance to stay healthy. I would not touch that guy. Injuries, off field rama. All that talent is something special but he's a lightning rod for drama. We really need the speedy, get on and run wild, great glove CF anyway. Werth and Harper are not going to be elite fielders.

NatsLady said...

Gonat, understood. We'd all like Matt Kemp. But if Texas takes Fielder and doesn't sign Hamilton to a long-term extension (he has said if he doesn't get an extension he won't talk contract with them until the season is over--shades of Pujols--) would you take him for 2013, assuming he returns to his career norm?

Gonat said...

NatsLady, I don't think Fielder fits Texas right now which is whey Boras should've done a 1 year deal for Prince to stay in Milwaukee for $23 million to get Texas, Dodgers, in the mix.

Jon Heyman's Big 3 for Prince is Nats, Orioles, Texas. Acronym is NOT for Orioles. Yes, they have talked but no way would he go there and be within a losing culture.

Bill Ladson says Nats and RZim NOW talking contract extension!!!!!!!!! EXTENSION!!!!!!!!!!

Wally said...

Ladson tweets that Nats and R.Zim are talking extension


RT @washingnats: I learned that Ryan Zimmerman and the #Nats are talking extension. I'll have more on MLB.com. #MLB

Anonymous8 said...

Michael Morse is at ESPN doing photo shoots. Do the Nats realize that he is their most marketable player based on personality, likeability and on-the-field performance????

Zim and Stras and JZim are semi-introverts. Michael Morse is an extrovert.

I would pay for Morse to live in DC and get him and that Bryce Harper (extrovert) guy in the off-season marketing for the Nats.

MicheleS said...

For once I hope Ladson is right!!!! SIGN RZIM! and Morse too please!

GOD I CAN'T WAIT FOR REAL GAMES TO START! I may actually break down and sign up for MLB radio so I can listen at work during spring training to games (any games at this point!)

MicheleS said...

Anon8.. I think they do since they are selling a Beast Mode Mini Plan.. They should actually, you know.. shoot commercials and put them on stations other than MASN.. and oh. have them talk to the local Sports station.. say one Nats Insider for CSN. ;-)

Gonat said...

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120118&content_id=26384358&vkey=news_was&c_id=was

Zim/Nats working on extension. ENJOY

Anonymous8 said...

MicheleS, good point on the Beast plan. They did something. Maybe its a start. If I were a Madison Ave. ad exec I would be using Morse for local advertising with encouragement from the Nats.

Wally said...

A little cold water on the Zim extension

@AdamKilgoreWP
Nothing new between Nats, Ryan Zimmerman. @washingnats is right about them talking. But they've been talking for a while. No closer to deal.

Gonat said...

That's not right of Kilgore to do that. If it was true, why didn't Kilgore report it before?

Just sayin' said...

NatsLady,

There's been lots of chatter on this site about Fielder's long-term health, all based on his weight/physical fitness. I would actually worry more about Hamilton's addiction demons (what someone above euphemistically calls 'drama') when considering long-term, multi-million-dollar contracts. I hope he stays clean and healthy, but addictions are difficult to overcome and keep at bay. To answer your question, if given the choice I'd take Fielder. If the Rangers take Fielder and Hamilton becomes available in 2013, he would not be on my list of FA targets.

Anonymous said...

If we sign Purple Rain, I predict Beast Mode for MVP. It worked for Braun.

He would get a lot of nice pitches hitting in the middle of Zim, Purple Rain, Werth and Harper.

Anonymous said...

I wonder what kind of deal Z'man would sign for. Many have said Z'man would be getting paid 20mil or more, but honestly I don't think his stats justify that. But naturally as teammates, Z'man would think, "I am worth as much as Werth".
I am sure for Z'man, their starting point of negotiation is the salary that Werth is getting at $18mil/yr. Considering Tulowitzki got $19mil/yr for 7 yrs, I think a contract in the range of Werth's($126mil/7yrs) and Tulowitzki's($134mil/7yrs) would get the deal done for Z'man.

Mr. Rizzo, let's get it done!

Oh, yeah... landing the PF flyer in DC would be nice too.

Sunderland said...

I have a hard time seeing Rizzo and Team RZ finding enough common ground about the long term value of RZ that an extension will get done this offseason.

Gonat said...

I felt like I needed to go to bat for Ladson. Never done that before and I got Kilgore all riled up:

@AdamKilgoreWP @washingnats Every day they keep talking its progress. AK - if u knew they were talking, how come u didnt post it when u knew

@AdamKilgoreWP:
@NatsHR2Win Check my story from back during the season. I wrote they've had "constant dialogue," or something to that effect.

DH said...

like i said before, the surefire way to absolutely tank PF's value is nats to extend Zman the next day Darvish signs. and the nats made sure ladson knows that.

Wally said...

Hey Gonat - I think you must have been partly responsible for this one, too. Feels a little bit like Broadcast News, doesn't it? I have to say, I think being a reporter in today's instantaneous and never ending information stream would be pretty tough duty.

@AdamKilgoreWP
Some followers took my last tweet as a shot at @washingnats. Not at all my intention. Not a shot. Perils of 140 characters. He's a pro.

Gonat said...

DH, but Kilgore says its been on-going. Hoping this is a heated up version but as a huge supporter of Zim he doesn't deserve Tulo or Braun money as MLBTR has made the comparison. A few bucks more than Werth sure but Zim has to realize what he really is and has been.

ehay2k said...

My take on all the offseason activity is that Team Rizzo is displaying a lot of patience, and I like it.

Team Rizzo didn't panic after Beurhle signed with the sartorially challenged Fish, and didn't need to show cards early in the Darvish Derby, and is in no hurry to make a splash to sign PF.

The results? A younger, harder throwing lefty for less money, for more years. Darvish signs with the Rangers, who may have sweetened their posting bid if they thought the Nats were bidding, leaving the Rangers unwilling to spend big on PF. Now that leaves a big, fat, alleged-vegetarian slugger as low-hanging fruit. Nice.

ehay2k said...

Lol - captcha was samishes. Surely PF is coming!

Gonat said...

Wally, I got into it once with Ladson. His post way back about Oswalt as the target when it was clearly Buehrle was just bad. Bill has a good heart. He just needs to know what is going on before he writes it.

MicheleS said...

Watched Hot Stove.. and I have to say.. I love Dan Plesac... he is totally drinking the Nats KoolAid! He even had Billy Ripken drinking some!

Anonymous8 said...

MicheleS, I saw that. The whole MLB Network loves the Nats. Did you hear Plesac talk nicely about John Lannan?

Anonymous said...

"...the PF question. It is the proverbial fork in the road"

More like the the proverbial elephant in the room.

baseballswami said...

Everyone else talks nicely about John Lannan except for our own Nat's fans. Of course, it's like family - if someone else was trashing him we would probably defend him.You only hurt the ones you love.

Anonymous8 said...

Baseballswami, here's what I think it is. Our fans watch him for all of his starts and since he doesn't pitch with flair and style points and doens't have a great heater, he doesn't get the love. How many times has he been called a soft tosser here?

Soft tossing Livo got more love. I wasn't a fan of Lannan's until 2011. He came into the season in great shape and a new attitude. If he got run support, his numbers would have been better. Some people talk about his luck and BABIP and don't give him credit for improving.

Anonymous said...

As Yogi Berra once said, when you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Whatsanattau said...

I just assumed the whiners were talking more loudly than the fans. If you're seriously having trouble finding the Lannan love, you can find it here. He's a very good 4th/5th. Very solid 5/6 inning pitcher to combine with Rodriguez, Clippard, Storen for a chance to win. If he ever learns to pitch against Philly as effectively as he pitches against Atlanta, he could be a solid number 3.

baseballswami said...

One more thing about John Lannan, aside from the fact that he has paid his dues with the nats in the really, really, bad years -- I have heard repeatedly that lefties bloom later than righties. Add that to the lack of run support on this team and I just don't think he has finished growing as a pitcher yet. No, he's not going to win the cy young or be an all-star, but he can have a solid career.

blovy8 said...

Agreed, Lannan has beat his peripherals for enough innings to figure he has the ability to maintain an above-average performance despite not really having an out pitch. He seems like a stand-up guy who takes responsibility. I think if he ever developed a change-up that was a few miles an hour slower, or improved his command, he'd be able to go deeper into games and get more respect. When his sinker is on, he's pretty solid.

Binx Bolling said...

I am a John Lannan fan but the truth is that he is a bullpen killer. Apparently he can't be trusted to last past the sixth inning. If Lannan is the chief catalyst in wearing out Clippard and Storen, is he really worth keeping?

As for Texas and Darvish, it would seem likely that the Rangers will not get their money's worth. I can't remember one Japanese pitcher that performed as hoped.

blovy8 said...

Binx, can you imagine the current alternatives - Detwiler, Gorzelanny, Maya, Stammen, etc. as inning eaters worth keeping in the seventh inning instead of one of the bullpen guys when a tough matchup happens? I can't. They're going to carry at least two long relievers, it shouldn't be an issue unless the team is actually leading in the late innings an awful lot more than I expect, and if that's the case, maybe Lannan deserves a bit more rope since the team is scoring him runs.

Anonymous said...

They already have a lefty long relief specialist in Gorzelanny who was pretty effective. They have a righty in Craig Stammen.

Lannan is odd man out likely traded or optioned to AAA since he unlike Detwiler and Gorzelanny still has one. He's too expensive to trade until the middle of the year, then he might make a good fill-in after injuries.

There is no doubt Davey Johnson won't have any qualms about cutting Lannan taking the best 25 players north.

Binx Bolling said...

Decided to compare Innings Per Start between Lannan and Roy Oswalt, a potential signee. Lannan from 2007 to 2011 has logged 5.78, 5.87, 6.25, 5.73 and 5.60. Oswalt from 20005-2011 has been 6.91, 6.90, 6.63, 6.52, 6.04, 6.62 and 6.04. Even if Oswalt pitches in the low Sixes next year he'll be better than Lannan in every season except possibly 2009. Roy Oswalt will likely pitch one-half and inning per start than Lannan. So is signing Oswalt worth it?

Mississippi Snopes said...

I wonder how terrible Michael Morse was as a defensive infielder coming up through the minors. If he could handle second base even in "Beast Mode" (think Dan Uggla), it would really open up some options for the Nats to sign Prince Fielder AND add a true center fielder.

Imagine this lineup Opening Day 2013:

CF - Michael Bourn
RF - Jayson Werth
3B - Ryan Zimmerman
1B - Prince Fielder
2B - Michael Morse
LF - Bryce Harper
SS - Danny Espinosa
C - Wilson Ramos

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