Yu Darvish rumors: Top 5 landing spots

1. Texas Rangers

Depending on what you want to believe, the Rangers are looking to trim payroll this year by at least $10 million. To me, that screams of a smokescreen designed to hide the team’s real intentions on the free-agent market. The Rangers are one of the wealthiest teams in the league and are moving into a brand-new, tax-payer funded ballpark by 2020. They need to remain competitive and avoid wasting the final seasons of future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre.

According to every published report, Darvish absolutely loved his time in Texas. He still makes his home in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex when he is in the United States. The trade last summer that sent him away from the Rangers will in no way prevent him from returning there if the money is right. There should be no hard feelings between the sides, unlike when the Boston Red Sox low-balled Jon Lester on a contract extension and then traded him.

Next: 10 MLB moves that still need to happen this offseason

Assuming the Rangers’ posturing about cutting salary is a ploy meant to mask their spending power this winter, Darvish would welcome a reunion. He may even be willing to accept slightly less per year