Yu Darvish: 10 Bold Predictions for His First MLB Season with Rangers

With the announcement that Texas has earned the rights to negotiate with Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish, the Rangers have put themselves in a good position to win their third straight AL pennant.

His progress throughout the spring and on into the regular season will be among the biggest storylines in all of baseball, and while Dice-K provided a cautionary tale, Darvish has the potential to be among the best pitchers in the game.

So here are 10 bold predictions for his first season in Texas as we begin to imagine what a Rangers team with him added to the rotation is capable of achieving.

Darvish Will Sign for More Money Than Dice-K

The Rangers won the right to negotiate with Darvish thanks to a posting bid of $51.7 million, just higher than the $51.1 million that it cost the Red Sox to negotiate with Dice-K.

The Red Sox then got Dice-K to sign when they offered him a six-year, $52 million contract, and while that did not work out as they hoped it would, there is a good chance it will cost the Rangers more to lock up Darvish.

Something in the neighborhood of a five-year, $75 million contract may be in order for the 25-year-old right-hander if he is to come stateside this year.

Darvish Will Struggle Early in Spring Training

Despite his impressive skill set, adjusting to the drastic change of coming overseas to play in the Major Leagues could pose some problems early on in Darvish's pro career.

His first spring training start will come with fantastic fan fare, but with so many eyes watching, he will prove that he is in fact human and get rocked in his first appearance.

Reports will point to the fact that he is working on his off-speed pitches or one of 100 other reasons for his struggles, and each pitch will be pored over on SportsCenter, but in the end it will simply be a case of nerves and he will quickly prove why he was so highly sought.

Darvish Will Not Start Opening Day

With a staff of Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison and Neftali Feliz set to be joined by Darvish, it looks as though the Japanese phenom is the most talented pitcher on the staff.

That said, the Rangers won't want to pile too much pressure on him too early, and he will likely begin the season as at least the team's second starter or perhaps even lower in the rotation.

Coming off a 16-5 regular season and an impressive postseason, Holland has earned the right to get the ball on Opening Day in 2012 and likely will.

Darvish Will Go Seven Innings, Get a Win in First Start

If he is among the first three starters in the rotation to open the season, Darvish will face the Chicago White Sox at home.

Assuming that is the first match-up of his big league career, the White Sox are the perfect team for Darvish to open his career against with a bang.

In a state of transition, the White Sox could look very different come Opening Day and if guys like Carlos Quentin and Gordon Beckham are traded, the lineup could be filled with unproven rookies.

First Game Line Prediction: 7 IP, 5H, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 Ks, 3 BB, Win

Darvish Will Surrender a Home Run to Albert Pujols the First Time They Meet

With the Angels adding Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, they have put themselves in contention for the AL West, and at the very least it should make for a terrific match-up when the Rangers and Angels meet all season long.

The Darvish vs. Pujols face off will be an interesting one to watch, and while pitchers generally have the advantage when facing someone for the first time, Pujols always seems to step his game up when the moment calls for it.

The two could meet for the first time for a three game series May 11-13 based on how the rotation falls, and the match-up will be one of the most anticipated of the 2012 season.

Darvish Will Make AL All-Star Team

With such a potent offense behind him, and a numerous games against the likes of the Athletics and Mariners, Darvish should have no trouble racking up the wins, even with a passable ERA.

However, he will have an ERA far better than passing and I expect his All-Star break line to be good enough to earn him an All-Star berth.

He won't be in the running to start the game, as he won't be on the same tier as guys like Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia right away, but he should have the numbers to earn a spot.

First-Half Stat Line Prediction: 9-5, 3.05 ERA, 110 Ks, 105 IP

Darvish Will Be Shelved with an Injury in 2012

Darvish has been a workhorse in his five seasons as a pro in Japan, making at least 23 starts each season and pitching an average of 205 innings per season.

His workout regimen has been touted as legendary, but all of this was the same story with Daisuke Matsuzaka, and while I don't see him being sidelined for significant time this season, I do expect him to miss at least a few starts with problems he generally would have pitched through.

With so much money invested in him, the Rangers will be ultra-careful with their new pitcher and make sure to push him back or skip him in the rotation if necessary. 

Total Starts Prediction: 28

Darvish Will Post Better Numbers as Rookie Than Dice-K Did Across the Board

If Darvish makes my predicted 28 starts this coming season, he would have made fewer starts than Dice-K did in his rookie season with the Red Sox when he went 15-12, 4.40 ERA, 201 Ks to finish fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Still, even with four fewer starts, his numbers will be better across the board thanks to better stuff and a fantastic offense to back him.

While it won't be enough for him to make a serious run at the AL Cy Young, it should be enough for him to merit at least some votes.

2012 Regular-Season Stat Line Prediction: 16-8, 3.60 ERA, 205 Ks, 185 IP

Darvish Won't Win AL Rookie of the Year

Despite what I anticipate to be a successful rookie season, I don't think Darvish will come away with the AL Rookie of the Year award.

On a team carried by what could be baseball's top offense, Darvish won't need to do as much to be successful as fellow rookie Matt Moore who is my pick to win the award.

Moore is coming off of a season in which he went 12-3, 1.92 ERA, 210 Ks, 155 IP in the minors, and then made a pair of postseason appearances and performed well on the biggest stage.

AL Rookie of the Year Predictions

1. SP Matt Moore, Rays
2. SP Yu Darvish, Rangers
3. DH Jesus Montero, Yankees 

Rangers Will Finally Win World Series with Darvish

The Rangers have won consecutive AL pennants, and even with the Angels additions and the always-strong Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers, they have to be the favorites once again in the American League.

While the team was unable to win the World Series in each of the past two seasons, the addition of Darvish, coupled with their terrific offense and the continued development of guys like Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando and Neftali Feliz, should make them that much better.

After C.J. Wilson has flopped the past two postseasons to the tune of a 1-5 record and a 4.82 ERA, replacing him with Darvish will be the addition the Rangers need to push them over the top.