Texas Rangers win the right to negiogate with Japanese star Yu Darvish

The Rangers want YU! Ok, sorry for that overused pun. With a record bid of $51.7 million, the Texas Rangers won the right to negotiate with Japanese super-star pitcher, Yu Darvish.

Last year, Darvish posted a 1.44 ERA with 18 wins and 276 strikeouts in only 28 games. He has won the ERA title in his league twice. He has also struck out the most batters three times.

Most times Japanese pitchers do not successfully transition to the MLB. Former Japanese pitchers, Hideo Nomo and Takashi Saito had good careers. Daisuke Matsuzaka had two decent years for the Red Sox, but has regressed ever since. Matsuzaka was 26 years old when he played for the Red Sox in his "rookie" season. Darvish is 25 years old.

The contract the Rangers could give Darvish could be around that of C.J. Wilson's five-year $77.5 million. Why would the Rangers give up a solid pitcher like Wilson to take a risk on an unproven Japanese pitcher? Money. It's a gamble, but if Yu Darvish is even moderately successful, he will generate great revenue from Japan.

I hope this doesn't prove costly for the Rangers.