Rangers hope to sign Darvish to extension before regular season

Just over five years ago, the Texas Rangers made one of the biggest international splashes in league history, posting a winning bid of $51.4 million and eventually signing Yu Darvish to a six-year, $56-million deal.

Now, the organization is hoping to lock down the right-hander on a long-term extension.

General manager Jon Daniels wants to open contract negotiations with Darvish in hopes of coming to an agreement in the new year or spring training, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The 30-year-old starter is set to become a free agent for the first time in his major-league career after the 2017 season.

The highest-paid pitchers in 2016, listed below, put together a similar string of success to Darvish since 2012 despite him missing all of 2015 due to injury and being limited to only 100 innings in 2016. Considering he has averaged a WAR of 3.9 throughout his career - and an ERA similar to the league's elite in less time on the mound - his 2017 salary could be roughly the same.

*Darvish missed all of 2015 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Darvish made 17 starts this past season, going 7-5 with 132 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP.