The Chicago Cubs have reeled in one of the offseason’s biggest free agents.
According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, pitcher Yu Darvish is headed to the Cubs on a six-year deal worth roughly $150 million.
BREAKING: Yu Darvish to #Cubs, six year-deal in $150M range, sources tell The Athletic. Pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 10, 2018
Again: Darvish to #Cubs, six years, $126M, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic. Chance to get to $150M range through incentives.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 10, 2018
Darvish will effectively replace Jake Arrieta, who almost certainly won’t return to Chicago now. The right-hander has a 3.42 career ERA with 1,021 strikeouts in 832.1 career innings.
The Japanese ace has had wide-ranging interest from around the league, including from the Cubs’ division rival Milwaukee Brewers. We heard several weeks back that the Cubs may have been front-runners, and their willingness to go for the sixth year may have ended up making the difference.
