The Los Angeles Dodgers are sitting pretty in 2017. With a 68-31 record, they are the best team in Major League Baseball with one of the most well-rounded teams you’ll ever find.
But it looks like there is room for even more top-tier talent as Los Angeles has been rumored to have “strong interest” in Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
Dodgers scouts were on hand for Darvish’s last start on Friday, which was a sterling eight-inning, 12-strikeout performance against the Tampa Bay Rays.
On a struggling Rangers team, his numbers this season do look underwhelming at 6-8. But a 3.44 ERA in the American League is a solid one and 143 strikeouts in 133.1 innings are just as good.
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His team hasn’t done much to help his cause, either. The 3.4 runs of support Darvish gets per start is tied for third-worst in the majors.
Bringing him to the National League where there is no DH and to a Dodgers team that averages over five runs per game could see those numbers turn around quickly. It also makes the rich even richer as the Dodgers would further solidify their case as the team to beat in the NL.
There might be more urgency to acquire Darvish, though. On Sunday, Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw left his start after just two innings with lower back tightness that is expected to land him on the disabled list.
It’s an enormous blow for the Dodgers as Kershaw has a league-best 15-2 record and 2.04 ERA.
While it is unknown just how long the lefty might be sidelined, getting Darvish ensures that the Dodgers can still churn out an ace at least once every five days.
