Written by ESPN News Staff at ESPN.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers, owners of the best record in baseball, have acquired right-hander Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers, the teams announced Monday.
Los Angeles landed perhaps the biggest name available right at the trade deadline. The Rangers will receive three minor leaguers: second baseman Willie Calhoun, right-hander A.J. Alexy and shortstop Brendon Davis. They are the fourth-, 17th- and 27th-ranked prospects in the Dodgers’ system, respectively, according to MLB.com.
Los Angeles did not want to part with top prospects such as right-hander Walker Buehler and outfielder Alex Verdugo.
“It’s an honor to be wanted by the team,” Darvish, who is from Japan, said through an interpreter.
The trade came after the Dodgers acquired left-handed relievers Tony Watson from the Pirates and Tony Cingrani from the Reds.
Darvish is 6-9 with a 4.01 ERA this season, his worst in five years in the majors. A four-time All-Star, Darvish has seen his win total decrease in each season in the league — from 16 in 2012 to seven last season. Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2015 season.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister said he wished Darvish luck and challenged him to do something memorable.
“There were times where he was just dominating as we’ve seen previously with the fastball, the swing-and-miss slider, the sinker, the split, slow curve,” Banister said. “He’s going to wipe out hitters on days when his stuff is there. You’re going to sit back and watch, and just marvel at what he does.”
Darvish, 30, is 0-5 with a 5.81 ERA over his past eight starts. He was tagged for a career-worst 10 runs in his last outing and later revealed that he was tipping his pitches to the Marlins.
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