It’s meant to be.

The issue is — for nearly everyone — (a) price and (b) whether or not he actually comes and/or stays. I’ve heard him say a lot of comments along the lines of wanting to play in Japan for longer. His more recent change of heart may not last for too long, especially if he comes over and ends being just average or above average, rather than blindingly dominant.

I have been a Darvish fan for years. I rock my Darvish jersey at Rays games all the time. This picture was taken about a year and a half ago, when I had short hair. This is my all-time favorite jersey.

A) He’s never said he has any interest in playing in MLB. That might just be because he’s Japanese and that’s what it’s appropriate to say, but his line has always been that he wants to stay in Japan.

B) I believe he’s a couple years from free agency still (7 years of service time until FA in Japan instead of 6, and after this year he’ll have about 5.5).

C) His team has showed little interest in posting him, at least until maybe the year before free agency.

D) If he does get posted, the posting fee would probably be in the neighborhood of Matsuzaka’s.

E) He’s already showing signs of degradation, as his K rate has been dropping and walk rate has been increasing the last few years (though he’s still been damn near unhittable, with H/9 around 6). With 150+ pitch counts and much more rigorous practices than in American baseball, this can probably be expected.

I mean, it would be dumb not to have some scouts watch him since he’s such a great talent, but he’s unlikely to be posted for at least another year, and when he does get posted, he’ll be too expensive.