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Darvish on the Cubs? Yu Better Believe It

Better late than never? After an off-season quiet enough to appease a grouchy librarian, the Chicago Cubs finally grabbed the top-of-the-rotation arm they needed by signing Yu Darvish this afternoon to a six-year, $126 million contract. Darvish can actually earn up to 150 million overall by hitting performance and playing time thresholds during the life of the contract.

The Cubs desperately needed an arm like Darvish on their staff. Before the signing, it was appearing that they would go into the season with Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, and Jose Quintana leading their staff. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that, but none are considered aces at this stage of their careers. Darvish, on the other hand, is squarely in his prime and has the stuff needed to lead this Cubs staff.

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In 2017, Darvish posted the highest ERA since his rookie year at 3.86, and his 10.1 K/9 was the lowest of his five-year career. Regardless, a 3.86 ERA and 10.1 K/9 are nothing to scoff at, and he was much better after a late-July trade landed him in Hollywood. In nine starts with the Dodgers, Darvish went 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, and 11.1 K/9.

On top of that, Darvish has always pitched well against National League opponents. In 17 interleague starts, he has a 3.14 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9. Signing with a National League team provides a nice boost in fantasy value for Darvish in 2018, especially in a division with two rebuilding teams.

Darvish (ADP 56) is currently being drafted as the 15th starting pitcher off the board, and I recently ranked him 18th in my 2018 starting pitcher rankings. Now that he’s signed, and in a good landing spot, Darvish moves up to 15th in my rankings. His probable low ERA and immense strikeout upside make him a borderline fantasy ace or a very strong SP2 in 2018 fantasy leagues. Just keep your fingers crossed that he can stay healthy.

Thank you for reading and I hope you can use this article to your advantage and get a leg up on your fellow league members.  Got a question that I didn’t cover here? Then follow me on Twitter @EricCross04 and ask there.

Previous Hot Stove Analysis

Mets Add Todd Frazier on Two-Year Deal

Diamondbacks Sign Alex Avila

Royals and Athletics Swap Parts

Brewers Sign Lorenzo Cain

Miami Sends Christian Yelich to Brewers

Giants Sign Austin Jackson

Blue Jays Acquire Randal Grichuk

Blue Jays Sign Curtis Granderson

Giants Trade for Andrew McCutchen

Astros Acquire Gerrit Cole

Twins Grab Their Closer, Sign Addison Reed

Mets Bring Back Jay Bruce on Three-Year Deal

Toronto Acquires Yangervis Solarte from San Diego

Royals, Dodgers, and White Sox Complete Three-Way Trade

Rockies Fill Closer Vacancy with Wade Davis

Arizona Adds Bullpen Depth with Yoshihisa Hirano

Indians Fill First-Base Void with Yonder Alonso

Brewers Bolster Rotation with Jhoulys Chacin

Orioles Lose Zach Britton, Brad Brach Likely Closer

Giants Add Evan Longoria, Rays Create a Mess

Red Sox Bring Back Mitch Moreland

CC Sabathia Returns to Yankees

Dodgers-Braves Make Five-Player Trade

Angels in the Infield: Zack Cozart Signs with Los Angeles

Phillies Ink Carlos Santana to Three-Year Deal

Everyone’s Signing Relievers, But Who Will Close?

Angels Trade for Ian Kinsler

Cardinals Finally Get Their Marlins Outfielder

Cubs and Twins Gamble on Smyly and Pineda

Chase Headley Gets Dumped on Padres

Cubs and Cardinals Add Potential Closers

Giancarlo Stanton Joins Yankees

Rockies Sign Chris Iannetta

Angels Land Shohei Ohtani

Tigers Sign Mike Fiers

Dee Gordon Traded to Mariners

Cubs Sign Tyler Chatwood

Rangers Sign Mike Minor

Wellington Castillo Inks Deal with White Sox

Potential Closers Traded: Boxberger and Johnson

Doug Fister Signs with Rangers

Ryon Healy Traded to Mariners

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