Never Mind

Did I just say the Cubs owed it to their fans not to do anything dumb this offseason?  Never mind, because they just went dumb by signing Yu Darvish for six years at $126 million.  

Everything I wrote about Darvish the other day still holds—he’ll turn 32 in August, by which time he should have added to a rather modest career win total of 56 games.  After winning 16 games his rookie year in 2012, Darvish managed 13, 10 and 7 the next three years; he missed 2015 because of Tommy John surgery.  He won 10 games last season while losing 12 for the Rangers and Dodgers.  Like they say, nice money if you can get it.

The weather this past week has been absolutely brutal, so that may factor into media hysteria over the signing; anything baseball promises spring.  According to the people I read, the Darvish contract will have no bearing on the Cubs going after Bryce Harper when he becomes a free agent at the end of the upcoming season.  Right, and Ben Zobrist and Jayson Heyward will have bounce-back seasons, too.

Did I mention that Tyler Chatwood, another “stud” starter signed in the offseason, went 8-15 for Colorado last year or that he has a career record of 40-46?  Or that Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek, who are expected to start the season sharing closer duties, had a combined three saves in 2017?  No?  Silly me.

Check that, silly Chicago sports’ media.