MLB free agency: Phillies interested in Yu Darvish

The Phillies are looking into the possibility of signing top free-agent starter Yu Darvish, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Although they are also checking in on other “high-profile” names, the Phillies are trying to “assess respective markets” to see if signing the 31-year-old Darvish or any other star can work for them, Rosenthal says.

The market is heating up for Darvish, as news came out today that Darvish is “increasingly likely” to sign with a club this week. In addition, the Twins are said to be in active discussions with Darvish, the Cubs are also actively talking to him, the Brewers and Yankees both have made offers to him, and the Rangers and Dodgers still have interest.

Rosenthal says that the probability of the Phillies being the top team in the race for Darvish is slim, but if he or other top free agent “fell into their range - preferably short-term - they might jump.”

Signing Darvish would be big for Philadelphia because, outside of Aaron Nola, the club needs a lot of work. However, the Phillies have made moves such as signing Carlos Santana, Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter, so acquiring Darvish would accelerate their rebuild process even more.

Last year, Darvish posted a 10-12 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 209 strikeouts over the course of 186 ²⁄₃ innings between the Rangers and the Dodgers. After being acquired at the non-waiver deadline by the Dodgers, Darvish helped the club get to the World Series.