Yu Darvish: Where Will He End Up?

Mere hours remain until we discover the fate of Japanese hurler Yu Darvish, arguably the best player to be posted from Japan since Daisuke Matsuzaka. While nobody knows for sure who will end up winning the rights to negotiate services of the 25-year old, it's a good bet to be one of these 10 teams.

Just a little refresher for those of you who aren't familiar with Darvish. He's been the best pitcher in Japan since he made his debut back in 2005 as an 18-year old. Last year was arguably his best campaign. He won 18 games, posted a career-low 2.95 ERA and struck out a league-high 276 batters in a league-leading 232 innings. He also paced the NPB with six shutouts and 28 games started. He allowed just five runs and for the fourth time in his career and posted a WHIP below 1.00.

As good as the stats are on Darvish, the scouting report is even more glowing.

He features premium velocity, something not exactly seen from most other Japanese pitchers. He tops out at 97 mph and complements his fastball with a cutter, slider, changeup and slurve.

No doubt, he'd be a welcomed addition for any big league team, and on at least 15, he would likely be the team's best starter. Without further ado, let's delve into the teams that could use him the most.

New York Yankees

Obviously, right?

Of course the team with the most money is going to be the most likely landing spot for Darvish. And the Yankees could certainly use his services.

Darvish would slot in nicely behind CC Sabathia, and pitching as a No. 2 would reduce some of the added pressure of playing in the Big Apple.

No doubt, the Yankees have the financial resources to be able to shell out the estimated $30-70 million posting fee, as well as the $30-50 million contract.

Texas Rangers

It's amazing the progress the Rangers have made in the few years since getting out from under the thumb of Major League Baseball.

Once upon a time, they couldn't even afford to shell out $5 million to a top draft pick, and now they're rumored to be one of the front-runners to land Darvish, who is potentially a $100 million investment.

The Rangers lost C.J. Wilson to the Angels, and therefore have a gaping hole in their rotation. Most important, they lack a staff ace, and Darvish could be just that for the Rangers, who have made pitching a priority since Nolan Ryan took over all the decision-making duties.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are another front-runner, although you have to wonder how tainted they are by the Daisuke Matsuzaka experience.

They don't have an immediate need for Darvish's services, but he would no doubt be a welcomed addition to the rotation. More importantly, signing him would mean that he wouldn't be joining the Yankees, which is basically a double victory.

One thing Boston has in its favor is the addition of manager Bobby Valentine, who spent the better part of the last decade in Japan, evaluating, coaching and winning.

Los Angeles Angels

It would be hard to imagine the Angels having the means to load another $100 million onto the pile that they've already accumulated in the past few weeks.

Still, owner Arte Moreno appears to be all in for 2012, securing the services of both Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, so it would only make sense for him to go after Darvish, who would add another fantastic option to a rotation that also includes Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana.

Toronto Blue Jays

A real dark horse for Darvish, the Blue Jays could use a signing of a player of his caliber to further expand their up-and-coming organization.

No team has done more in the past three years to add talent in the draft, and GM Alex Anthopoulos has also been savvy in the international market, picking up some of the team's top prospects such as SS Adeiny Hechevarria and RHP Henderson Alvarez.

Expanding into the Asian market seems like the next logical step for Toronto and could give them a bona fide No. 1 starter that the Jays currently lack.

Washington Nationals

The Nats made it clear last offseason with a massive contract for Jayson Werth that they're going to spend as much as it takes to become relevant.

Like Toronto, they have added tons of talent through the draft and have made a few forays into the international market, specifically in the Caribbean, but they could open up a huge pipeline into the Far East with a winning bid for Darvish.

Their big league club is stocked with young pitching, including Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann, and they have a few more premium arms down in the minors in Matt Purke and Alex Meyer, pitchers who should arrive in the majors in two to three years—around the time Darvish is entering his prime.

Philadelphia Phillies

Very few experts expected the Phillies to add Cliff Lee before last season, but it was Philly that swooped in and picked up the lefty in a surprise move, giving it one of the most lethal rotations in baseball history.

So who's to say that they wouldn't go out of their way to try to add Darvish, who would be a great replacement for the aging Roy Oswalt?

He would also be the perfect bridge to the team's best pitching prospects, including LHP Jesse Biddle and RHP Trevor May, who are at least three or four years away from contributing at the big league level.

Phillies fans have to face it, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee won't be around forever, and the team can't survive on just Cole Hamels alone.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles made the biggest splash into the Asian market this offseason when they signed LHP Tsuyoshi Wada a few days ago from the same Japanese League that Darvish has called home.

Wada is the second Japanese pitcher that the O's have brought over to the States in the past three years (Koji Uehara is the other), and it's safe to say that they're becoming a household name in Japan.

The team has had discussions about bringing Uehara back to Baltimore, which could be appealing to Darvish, who will be playing outside of Japan for the first time ever.

Financial restrictions will inevitably come into play with the Orioles. Owner Peter Angelos has consistently been reluctant to shell out the kind of money it's going to take to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox.

Pittsburgh Pirates

If the Blue Jays are a dark horse, then the Pirates are something else entirely.

Pittsburgh has been trying to make themselves relevant again, following the Nationals' method: building through the draft and trying to lock up young players.

The Bucs have several prospects on the verge of cracking into the big leagues, including catcher Tony Sanchez and outfielder Starling Marte.

Now is the time to make a Jayson Werth-like splash, a la Washington last offseason, and Darvish would be just that. Slotting him into the rotation alongside Gerrit Cole and eventually Jameson Taillon would give the Pirates a devastating big three.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Obviously the Dodgers are in no position to shell out the kind of coin that it's going to take to sign Darvish, but they do have one thing that none of the other nine teams on this list have.

Trey Hillman.

The Dodgers' bench coach and former Royals manager managed Darvish in Japan's Pacific League from 2005-07 and was instrumental in his drafting. That likely won't be as important as the financial constraints, but nobody thought the team had any real intention of signing their first-round draft pick in 2010 either.

They ended up shelling out $5.25 million for Zach Lee, who is now one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.