While the free-agent market moved for relievers during this week’s Winter Meetings, there wasn’t quite as much action for starting pitchers. And with that, Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish both remain available.
Aside from reports of each right-hander fielding interest from various clubs, there’s been little action on either. Despite Arrieta and Darvish both being on the wrong side of 30 years old, they’re projected to sign two of the most lucrative contracts this winter.
They unquestionably are the best starting pitchers on the open market, particularly with two-way star Shohei Ohtani having signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Minnesota Twins are among the teams that have been linked to Arrieta and Darvish in recent weeks. General manager Thad Levine said signing Darvish was a priority for the club.
The strong interest in the 31-year-old was restated by Twins manager Paul Molitor, via Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press:
“Let’s make sure that the player and his team understand that we want to be part of discussions and have targeted him as somebody we have tremendous interest in,” Molitor said. “Where that’s going to go, where the market’s going to go, what we’re able to do, how far other teams are willing to go — (those are) things you can’t control.”
If Darvish is to sign with the Twins, he would return to the American League, where he’d spent the entirety of his career before a midseason trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers this year.
Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi revealed this week that club has remained in contact with Darvish, but it’s not believed their talks have gained much traction. Zaidi previously acknowledged the trade was completed with an understanding Darvish finish as nothing more than a rental.
While Darvish was instrumental in helping the Dodgers reach the World Series for the first time since 1988, he struggled in the Fall Classic and has since been dogged by reports of tipping pitches.
