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It looks like the Nationals can cross one possible target off their list of No. 1 pitchers they could add to their rotation before next season.
Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish, whom the Nationals had been linked to earlier this fall, posted on his blog that he will be staying in Japan for the 2011 season (a translation of the post appeared on yakyubaka.com this morning).
Here's what Darvish wrote (the spaces are intentionally left that way, for dramatic effect):
A lot has been mentions about the Majors.
I received a lot of comments, both on Twitter and on my blog.
I don't know if this will match everyone's guess.
Next season...
I will be wearing a Nippon Ham Fighters uniform.
The 24-year-old, who has become one of the best pitchers in Japan, was reportedly cool on the idea of coming to the majors this year, anyway.
A contract for Darvish would likely cost the Nationals upwards of $50 million, in addition to the posting fee they'd have to pay to get negotiating rights with him.
In 2006, the Red Sox posted $51 million to sit down with Daisuke Matsuzaka.
