The rich get richer.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers have traded for starting pitcher Yu Darvish
Source: Darvish to #Dodgers
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
Darvish is 6-9 on the season with a 4.01 ERA. The Rangers signed the right-hander out of Japan to a six-year contract prior to the 2012 season, and he has not disappointed. Darvish is a four-time American League All-Star and was the runner-up to the AL Cy Young award in 2013, with another top-10 finish in 2012.
His 4.01 ERA is slightly misleading. Darvish had a 3.44 ERA before his last start, in which he gave up 10 runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
10 minutes before the deadline, Darvish appeared hopeful he would remain with the only organization he has played for.
10min!! pic.twitter.com/gwP7qwvh8d
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) July 31, 2017
Instead, Darvish will be heading to Los Angeles and joining a club with a major-league best 74-31 record. Darvish is in the last year of his contract, but that didn’t stop the Dodgers from giving up three prospects (yet to be named) to acquire one of the best pitchers rumored to be on the market. Clayton Kershaw is currently on the disabled list, but if and when he returns, the pair have the potential to form a lethal 1-2 punch atop the Dodgers’ rotation.
Even with the best record in baseball, the acquisition of Darvish and two left-handed relievers at the deadline sends a message that the Dodgers are going for it in 2017.