Texas Spent Time Getting To Know Yu Before $111M
ARLINGTON (AP) - Before the Texas Rangers committed more than $111 million to get Japan's best pitcher, they spent more than two years watching and getting to know Yu Darvish.
Texas general manager Jon Daniels says it was much more than "just sitting behind the plate with a radar gun.''
Rangers scouts in the Pacific Rim who watched the 25-year-old Darvish pitch and other team officials also spent time developing a personal relationship with Darvish and his family.
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Darvish's agents say the Rangers were very thorough in their evaluation, and that the personal connection they built over the years was "very significant'' to Darvish, who agreed to a $60 million, six-year contract.
The Rangers also have to pay a record $51.7 million posting fee to Darvish's team in Japan.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
