And by your team, I mean, the New York Yankees.
Jim Caple from ESPN Magazine introduces us to a 21-year-old pitcher from Japan that figures to the next Daisuke Matsuzaka or perhaps even better. Darvish is a 6'5 ace for the Nippon Ham FIGHTERS and quickly becoming one of the stars of Japanese league.
(By the way, Caple also tells us that the Ham FIGHTERS mascot is naturally a bear with a mohawk, because why wouldn't it be.)
Since Hank Steinbrenner won't want to let the Boston Red Sox one up them any longer with Dice-K, you can assume he'll spend whatever money is needed, maybe $75 million ... just to negotiate.
As you can see by this video and the easily understood descriptions, the kid can deal.
Former manager Trey Hillman thinks he could be special:
"How good do I think he can be? I think he can be the best in the world. He's not there yet ... but I think he can potentially pass a guy like Matsuzaka."Also noteworthy, is that Darvish has already posed nude for a women's lifestyle magazine. That makes his chances of becoming a Yankee even higher. You're telling me A-Rod and Jeter won't be trying to get this man into their clubhouse?
It's unlikely Darvish comes over any time soon, but another name to track in the growing trend of the best Japanese talent joining the majors.
Do you think it's worth the investment to bring these talents over?
Dice-K 2.0 [ESPNtheMag]
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