Yu Darvish recently became a Dodger as part of a wild MLB trade deadline, breaking the hearts of Rangers fans everywhere. Darvish hadn’t been as dominant the Rangers hoped when they signed him in 2012, but he became a fan favorite for producing quality start after quality start.
Although his five-and-a-half-year tenure in Texas ended with some bitterness, Darvish took out a full-page ad in The Dallas Morning News on Thursday to thank Rangers fans for their support.
He wrote:
Thank you very much for the past 5.5 years since 2012.
Coming from Japan, I could not have adjusted to the new environment if it weren’t for all the courteous fans, teammates, team staff and all affiliates who supported me. It is my biggest regret that I gave up 10 runs on my last outing as a Ranger.
Then, Darvish took a moment to defend himself from critics:
There were a small number of voices that said, “Darvish only cares about strikeouts.” Although I may have had strikeouts in my mind, fans, team, teammates and team staff were always my top priority.
That’s sure to get some diehard Rangers fans tearing up.
It’s no surprise Texas, who is 4.5 games out of the second AL Wild Card, dealt Darvish at the trade deadline. He holds an expiring contract and was not expected to re-sign this offseason. Some thought he might still sign with the Rangers after finishing the year in L.A., but at his post-trade press conference, he told reporters that didn’t seem likely.
“I don’t think I’m coming back.”
After struggling with injuries for three seasons, Darvish is making a nice comeback in 2017. He hasn’t missed a start while posting a 4.01 ERA with 148 strikeouts in 137 innings. Now that he’s in Los Angeles, Darvish can focus on strikeouts all he wants while he tries to deliver the Dodgers their first World Series championship since 1988.
