Agent says Darvish won't rule out return to Rangers
Before this year's trade deadline, the Texas Rangers were all that Yu Darvish knew as a major-league pitcher. After spending three months in Los Angeles, he could be turning his gaze back toward his old friends in Arlington.
According to his agent, Joel Wolfe, Darvish would be amenable to returning to the Rangers this winter if the right opportunity presented itself. Darvish and his family live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area full time.
"They (the Darvish family) love Dallas," Wolfe said, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. "They moved back there after the season.
"But he's got an open mind. He wants to play for a winner, get back to the World Series, and redeem himself. He feels next year will be the best year of his career."
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels didn't pour cold water on the possibility of a reunion, although he wasn't clear on whether the two sides have had any discussions this winter.
"The relationship is very good," Daniels said. "A number of us (in the Rangers organization) still maintain contact with him. The relationship with him has been good for years. There are no other factors other than the traditional free-agent decisions."
Darvish joined the Rangers in 2012 following his stellar career in Japan and immediately became a star, posting a pair of 200-strikeout campaigns in his first two big-league seasons and making three consecutive All-Star appearances. He was a big part of two Rangers playoff teams (he missed their 2015 run due to Tommy John surgery), and was only dealt away at this year's deadline for a package of prospects once they fell out of contention.
The 31-year-old has reportedly drawn interest from a variety of teams besides the Rangers, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, and Houston Astros. Earlier this winter it was reported that there was "no chance" Darvish would return to the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he spent the last three months of 2017.
Texas has been active on the pitching market this winter, having already signed veterans Doug Fister and Mike Minor to bolster its rotation. The team has also been connected to other available arms including Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn, and New York Mets star Matt Harvey.