Sox Signed

Sox Signed
Sox+Signed

Times wires (St. Petersburg Times)

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish is coming to America.

Japan's best pitcher and the Rangers agreed before Wednesday's deadline to a
$60 million, six-year contract. In addition, the Rangers will pay a posting
fee of $51,703,411 to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan's Pacific
League.

"We look at this as really a perfect fit," GM Jon Daniels said. "Obviously he
has yet to pitch in the major leagues, but we feel he has proven himself on a
big stage. … It's all winning."

The deal came at the end of a 30-day negotiating window that began Dec. 19
when the Rangers' bid to negotiate with the pitcher was accepted. Had a deal
not been reached by the deadline, Darvish would have remained with the
Fighters. And Texas, which has been to consecutive World Series without
winning the title, would've kept the posting fee that ends with the jersey
numbers of Rangers president and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan (34) and
Darvish (11).

When the deal was reached in Texas by his agents, the 25-year-old was home in
Japan, where he returned for offseason training after his first and only visit
to Texas ...

St. Petersburg Times

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