It looks like Yu-mania will be coming to Arlington after all. Jon Paul Morosi reported on Thursday that the Rangers are "increasingly optimistic" that Darvish will sign with the Rangers by next Wednesday's deadline. If, for whatever reason, the Rangers and Darvish fail to come to an agreement by then, the Rangers will not have to pay the $51.7 million dollar posting fee.
↵That Darvish remains unsigned on January 12 should be expected. There's absolutely no reason to panic, as it always seemed likely that negotiations would come down to the last week, if not the last day, between Darvish and the Rangers. There's no reason to expect that the two sides will fail to come to an agreement before the deadline.
↵In fact, it's probably time to start getting excited about Darvish. Rangers manager Ron Washington came aware impressed with Darvish after speaking with Darvish last week and watching tape of him.
↵↵↵"He's got great mechanics," Washington said. "He throws strikes. He's got four or five good pitches."
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Washington said Darvish has a sharp mind.↵
"He remembers who he faced and what he did and what they did against him," Washington said. "I think he'll fit in nicely with our young kids. He's still young himself."
Time will tell if letting C.J. Wilson go in favor of Darvish was a good idea, but at the very least, it'll provide for an interesting Spring Training this year.
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