Darvish joins Cubs: 6 years, $126 million
The winter-long dance is over. Yu Darvish is joining the Chicago Cubs.
Darvish, 31, has agreed to a six-year, $126 million contract with Chicago, giving the Cubs one of the deepest rotations in baseball and taking one of the top players off the slow-moving free agent market.
Darvish met with Cubs officials in December and the sides remained in contact while the right-hander listened to other suitors. Texas, Milwaukee, Minnesota and the Yankees reportedly expressed interest.
A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed the contract to the Associated Press on Saturday on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement. The move was first reported by the Athletic.
Darvish gives the Cubs a boost as they try to return to the World Series after winning the title two years ago. He joins a formidable rotation with Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood, who agreed to a $38 million, three-year deal in December.
Darvish finished last season with the Dodgers, helping them knock out the Cubs in the playoffs to reach the World Series. The Japanese star is expected to take the rotation spot of Jake Arrieta, who became a free agent after becoming an AllStar in Chicago.
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, pitching 61⁄3 innings of one-run ball in a 6-1 victory at Wrigley Field.
He was hit hard in the World Series against Houston, managing five outs in each of his two starts — including a loss in Game 7 — and there was talk he was tipping his pitches.
Players lose: Starting pitchers Kendall Graveman of the A’s and Mike Foltynewicz of the Braves lost to their teams in salary arbitration.
Graveman, who went 6-4 with a 4.11 ERA last season, had been seeking $2.6 million, a raise from $545,000. He’ll make $2.3 million instead.