Cubs, Darvish finalize $ 126 million, 6- year contract
CHICAGO — Yu Darvish and the Chicago Cubs have finalized their $ 126 million, six- year contract, by far the largest deal in a slow- moving free agent market.
The agreement announced Tuesday topped outfielder Lorenzo Cain’s $ 80 million, five- year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
In addition, the Los Angeles Angels gave outfielder Justin Upton a $ 106 million, five- year contract in November before he could become a free agent.
Darvish joins a rotation that includes Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood, who agreed to a $ 38 million, three- year contract in December.
A four- time All- Star, Darvish finished last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, helping them knock out the defending champion Cubs in the playoffs to reach the World Series. The 31- year- old Japanese right- hander is expected to take the rotation spot of Jake Arrieta, who became a free agent.
Darvish went 4- 3 with a 3.44 ERA in nine starts with the Dodgers down the stretch. He shut down the Cubs in Game 3 of the NLCS, striking out seven while pitching 6 1/3 innings of one- run ball in a 6- 1 victory at Wrigley Field.
But Darvish was hit hard in the World Series against Houston, managing just five outs in each of his two starts — including a Game 7 loss.