WILL YU DARVISH BE A NEW YORK YANKEE?

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The Yankees want Yu Darvish and so does every other team for that matter. Looking at just the sheer upgrade Darvish would bring to our rotation he makes complete sense. I just wish the math added up. Here we are three weeks before pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training and the free agent market is still stalled.

Or is it? According to MLB Trade Rumors HERE Darvish is close to signing. So close that he may sign this week. Thank goodness....some action, finally! Are the Yankees still even in the running? Can we pull this off without trading Jacoby Ellsbury after all?

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It doesn't sound like it. The Yankees have about $22 million left to spend before they hit the luxury tax threshold and we know they are going to spend it. I don't like "almost" because that only applies to horse shoes and hand grenades but....WE ALMOST DUMPED HIM! Well...at least we like to think we did. It would've been awesome, then we could afford a player like Darvish and had some breathing room. If the Yankees are sticking to their plan to get under the luxury tax getting him isn't likely.

Yet, Darvish is still out there. He still needs a home. And no matter what the real story is with the whole "Yankees made an offer to Darvish" or "No offer was made" HERE your guess is as good as mine. Some team out there must be getting close.

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It sounds like the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs are going pretty hard for Darvish. Some say the Rangers are the favorites to bring him back home. I dunno. All I know is after the Shohei Ohtani signs with the Angels upset this is a free-for-all. So maybe we aren't completely out of it? I like to hold on and hope I guess.

The Brewers are still out there and we can't forget the Dodgers. If I were a free agent pitcher I would be drawn to the Dodgers that's for sure. That team is going to be a force to reckon with again and I think the Postseason is waiting for them again. What about the Twins though? They have been more active in talks with Darvish recently even though they supposedly aren't willing to make a market-topping offer.

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I don't know how to judge this market. This has been a completely bizarre offseason. Who knows if any of these rumors pan out or maybe some mystery team signs him.....

All I know is I hope one rumor is in fact true....PLEASE Darvish, sign this week. We need some action already!

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj