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We start with the ridiculous:
BREAKING: per ESPN’s Mike Timmons, Cubs out on Yu Darvish.
— Ed Monix (@Sry4Partyin) January 27, 2018
Beyond the fact that this is a non-verified, random account, there’s no one who works at ESPN named “Mike Timmons.” The Cubs used to have an Ozzie Timmons, for whatever that’s worth. (Ozzie Timmons, incidentally, will be the Rays’ first-base coach this season.)
We have crossed the line into silly season, which apparently comes right before baseball season. Credit to that Twitter account for acknowledging this:
Guy just asked a cat with fake sources about my fake tweet. The world has officially met hell https://t.co/QGAX4u4e32
— Ed Monix (@Sry4Partyin) January 28, 2018
Admit it. You laughed. We could use something to lighten up this dull offseason.
Now, on to the more serious information on Yu Darvish. One national writer thinks the Cubs are in the driver’s seat:
Not sure how close Yu Darvish is to a decision, but the field appears to be narrowing. Some execs think #Cubs are still the frontrunner. The rest of the starting market is waiting for him to make a call.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) January 27, 2018
Bruce Levine, appearing on 670 The Score Saturday, hinted that Darvish would prefer the Cubs, but that it seems the Cubs’ offer is for four years and Darvish wants five:
According to @MLBBruceLevine on @670TheScore FA “Yu Darvish @faridyu wants to sign with Cubs” . He believes “Cubs are only offering 4 years deal” and If Darvish gets a 5 year offer he will take it. #Cubs #MLB Credits : @pj2384 and @jsantiago26
— Chicago Cubs Reports ✭ (@TheCubsReporter) January 27, 2018
If that is actually the case, you’d think a creative front office could put together some sort of vesting option or mutual option for that fifth year. There’s also this:
According to @MLBBruceLevine during @670TheScore: Cubs Jed Hoyer “probably” wants to get this deal wrapped up this weekend because he drives out to Arizona in a couple days (Feb 1) for Spring training and Front office usually gets there 2 weeks early #Cubs #MLB Credits: @pj2384
— Chicago Cubs Reports ✭ (@TheCubsReporter) January 28, 2018
Meanwhile, it looks like the Dodgers could be out on a Darvish return:
Farhan Zaidi on possibility of #Dodgers re-signing Yu Darvish: "There would be some hurdles for us to add any significant contracts at this point."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) January 28, 2018
LAD does not want to push any closer to luxury tax threshold than they already are. So there would have to be offseting moves
17 days until Cubs pitchers and catchers will have their first workout at Sloan Park. I’d really like Yu Darvish to be one of those pitchers on the back fields at the spring complex.