The New York Yankees submitted a posting bid for Japanese ace Yu Darvish before Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline, the New York Post reported, citing sources.
If the bid is accepted by his Japanese team the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, the Yankees will be in position to get exclusive negotiating rights to the 25-year-old right-hander.
The only other known team to have made a bid as of 7:00pm Wednesday was the Chicago Cubs.
Nippon has until 5:00pm Tuesday to accept a bid.
If Hokkaido accepts the high bid, as expected, the winning major league club will gain exclusive negotiating rights to Darvish for 30 days.
The 26-year-old will return to the Fighters only if he is unable to agree on a contract with the high bidder. His friend, right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, failed to reach agreement with his high bidder, the Oakland Athletics, a year ago.
Darvish's posting fee could exceed the Red Sox's winning $51 million bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Darvish's contract also could be worth more than Matsuzaka's six-year, $52 million deal, FOX Sports has reported.
Darvish went 18-6 with a career-best 1.44 ERA last season, striking out 276 and walking only 36 in 232 innings.
If the bid is accepted by his Japanese team the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, the Yankees will be in position to get exclusive negotiating rights to the 25-year-old right-hander.
The only other known team to have made a bid as of 7:00pm Wednesday was the Chicago Cubs.
Nippon has until 5:00pm Tuesday to accept a bid.
If Hokkaido accepts the high bid, as expected, the winning major league club will gain exclusive negotiating rights to Darvish for 30 days.
The 26-year-old will return to the Fighters only if he is unable to agree on a contract with the high bidder. His friend, right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, failed to reach agreement with his high bidder, the Oakland Athletics, a year ago.
Darvish's posting fee could exceed the Red Sox's winning $51 million bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Darvish's contract also could be worth more than Matsuzaka's six-year, $52 million deal, FOX Sports has reported.
Darvish went 18-6 with a career-best 1.44 ERA last season, striking out 276 and walking only 36 in 232 innings.
