Darvish deal expected to be completed this week

Yu Darvish, arguably the top free-agent starting pitcher this winter, is expected to come off the market this week, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, and the Cubs are reportedly the favorites to sign the right-hander.

The Twins, Brewers, Phillies and Yankees have also been linked to Darvish, with Milwaukee and Minnesota having reportedly made offers. However, the Twins are not willing to go beyond a five-year commitment, per Heyman, and view right-hander Alex Cobb as a potential backup should they not sign Darvish.

The Cubs have been in the market for starters all winter, as two members of their 2017 rotation, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey, are free agents. They have been long rumored to potentially bring Arrieta back -- particularly with how slow this offseason's free-agent market has progressed -- but have been more strongly linked to Darvish. The Cubs have already signed former Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million deal to shore up the back end of their rotation.

Darvish posted a 3.86 ERA in 31 starts with the Rangers and Dodgers last season, including a 3.44 ERA over nine starts down the stretch for Los Angeles following a deal just before the non-waiver Trade Deadline. The four-time All-Star was also excellent in the first two rounds of the postseason, posting a 1.59 ERA in two starts over the National League Division Series and the NL Championship Series. He was hit hard by the Astros over two World Series starts, surrend

LEADING OFF: Darvish makes Dodgers debut; Judge off bench

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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YU TURN

Yu Darvish makes his Los Angeles Dodgers debut when the top team in the majors takes on Jacob deGrom (12-4, 3.29 ERA) and the New York Mets in a marquee pitching matchup at Citi Field. The Dodgers acquired Darvish from Texas just before Monday's trade deadline.

OCTOBER ON MY MIND

In a potential playoff preview, the Nationals visit the Cubs for a Wrigley Field matinee as the teams begin a three-game series. Chicago has lost consecutive games for the first time since the All-Star break, trimming its NL Central lead over Milwaukee to 1½ games. "They've turned it up," Washington manager Dusty Baker said. "There will be a lot of fan excitement." Kyle Hendricks (4-3, 3.80 ERA) makes his third start for the Cubs since coming off the disabled list July 24. Tanner Roark (8-7, 4.93) is on the mound for the Nationals.

OFF THE BENCH

Slumping slugger Aaron Judge is expected back in the lineup when left-hander Jaime Garcia makes his Yankees debut at Cleveland. Judge, who leads the majors with 34 homers, was rested in the series opener Thursday night. "I just felt maybe a day off would do him some good," manager Joe Girardi said. Judge is batting .164 (11 of 67) with four homers, nine RBIs and 29 strikeouts since the All-Star break. His batting average has dropped from .329 to .299, and the 25-year-old rookie struck out in 21 consecutive games. "Mechanically, he's a little bit off," Girardi said. Struggling designated hitter Matt Holliday also is expected to play for New York after getting a night off Thursday. Garcia, who began the season with Atlanta, made one start for Minnesota before the Twins traded him to the Yankees last weekend.

BIG BOPPER

Paul Goldschmidt tries to follow up a huge game at the plate when Arizona faces Madison Bumgarner (1-4, 2.92 ERA) in San Francisco. Goldschmidt hit three long homers Thursday in Chicago, snapping a ninth-inning tie when he connected off All-Star closer Wade Davis, and the Diamondbacks pulled out a rain-delayed victory over the Cubs. Goldschmidt's first career three-homer game gave him 25 for the season, and his six RBIs matched a career high. Arizona remained percentage points ahead of Colorado for the top NL wild card. Bumgarner makes his fifth start since returning from the disabled list July 15. Against the Dodgers on Sunday, he tossed seven scoreless innings.

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MLB deadline roundup: Dodgers land Darvish; Gray to Yankees

Yu Darvish is on the move, after all.

Minutes after Darvish posted a picture of himself standing next to his Rangers locker on Twitter, Texas traded the four-time All-Star to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.

The Japanese-born right-hander posted a caption of "10min!!!" with his Twitter selfie, a reference to Monday's impending 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline.

Texas received outfielder Willie Calhoun, right-hander A.J. Alexy and infielder Brendon Davis in exchange for Darvish.

Darvish, 30, bolsters a red-hot Dodgers squad that boasts the best record in the majors (74-31) and is currently without injured ace Clayton Kershaw (back). Darvish is 6-9 with a 4.01 ERA and 148 strikeouts through 22 starts this season.

--Sonny Gray is joining the Yankees after the former All-Star right-hander was traded to New York by the Oakland Athletics.

The Athletics acquired outfielder Dustin Fowler, right-hander James Kaprielian and infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo in the deal. The Yankees also acquired $1.5 million in international bonus money.

Gray, 27, went 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 16 starts with Oakland this season. He won 14 games in back-to-back seasons with the A's in 2014 and 2015, with his 14-7 record, 2.73 ERA and 169 strikeouts earning him his lone All-Star selection in 2015.

New York also traded right-hander Yefry Ramirez to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for international bonus pool money.

--The Chicago Cubs acquired Detroit Tigers closer Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila in exchange for minor league infielders Jeimer Candelario and Isaac Paredes.

The Cubs also will send Detroit a player to be named or cash as part of the trade that was finalized Monday morning.

Wilson, who turns 30 next month, is 3-4 and has a 2.68 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings during 41 appearances for the Tigers this season.

Avila, 30, is batting .274 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. He has played all but one of his nine major league seasons in Detroit and is the son of Tigers general manager Al Avila.

--Francisco Liriano is joining the Astros after the Toronto Blue Jays dealt the former All-Star left-hander for Houston outfielders Nori Aoki and Teoscar Hernandez.

Liriano, 33, is 6-5 with a 5.88 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 18 starts for the Blue Jays this season. He reportedly will join the Astros on Tuesday.

The move comes at a good time for Houston after the team placed right-hander Lance McCullers (7-3, 3.92 ERA) on the 10-day disabled list with back discomfort on Monday.

--Brandon Kintzler is headed to the nation's capital after the Washington Nationals acquired the All-Star closer from the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins received left-handed reliever Tyler Watson and $500,000 in international bonus pool money in exchange for Kintzler.

Kintzler, who will turn 33 on Tuesday, is in the midst of a career year, going 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA and a career-high 28 saves in 45 appearances with Minnesota, giving him his first career All-Star selection in the American League.

--The Boston Red Sox completed a trade with the New York Mets to acquire right-handed closer Addison Reed.

Reed was dealt for minor league right-handers Jamie Callahan (Triple-A), Gerson Bautista (Class A), and Steve Nogosek (Class A). He will be a free agent after the season.

Reed, 28, is 1-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 19 saves in 21 opportunities over 49 innings in 48 appearances this season. Reed would be expected to return to a setup role behind Red Sox right-handed closer Craig Kimbrel.

--The Pittsburgh Pirates traded former closer Tony Watson and acquired reliever Joaquin Benoit in separate deadline.

Pittsburgh shipped Watson to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for two minor leaguers, infielder Oneil Cruz and right-hander Angel German. The Pirates then swung a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, bringing in Benoit in exchange for minor league right-hander Seth McGarry.

Watson, 32, who will become a free agent after the season, was 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA in his seventh season -- all with Pittsburgh. Benoit, who turned 40 last week, appeared in 44 games with the Phillies, compiling a 4-1 record with a 4.07 ERA and two saves. He is 58-47 with a 3.80 ERA in 16 seasons.

--The Baltimore Orioles acquired infielder Tim Beckham from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays received minor league right-hander Tobias Myers in exchange for Beckham, who is hitting .259 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 87 games this year.

Beckham was the top overall selection by Tampa Bay in the 2008 amateur draft but saw his playing time dwindle after the Rays acquired shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the Miami Marlins.

--The Cleveland Indians boosted their bullpen with the addition of right-hander Joe Smith in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Smith was traded for minor league left-hander Thomas Pannone and shortstop Samad Taylor. The 33-year-old and 11-year MLB veteran went 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA in 38 relief appearances with the Blue Jays this season.

Pannone, 23, is 8-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 19 starts with Double-A Akron in 2017. Taylor, 19, is batting .300 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 28 games with Class A Mahoning this season.

--The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired right-hander David Hernandez from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitcher Luis Madero.

The 32-year-old Hernandez posted a 1-0 record with one save, a 2.23 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 38 relief appearances (36 1/3 innings) with the Angels.

Madero began his 2017 with Missoula in the Pioneer League before being promoted to Class A Hillsboro in the Northwest League on July 14. The 20-year-old right-hander has a 1-1 record with an 8.24 ERA in four starts with Hillsboro.

--The Oakland Athletics traded infielder Adam Rosales to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league right-hander Jeferson Mejia.

Rosales, 34, was batting .234 with four home runs and 27 RBIs in 71 games with Oakland this season.

Mejia, 22, began the season at Class A Kane County of the Midwest League and was 1-1 with a 6.08 ERA in 18 relief appearances before being transferred to Hillsboro of the short-season Class Northwest League, where he made three relief appearances.

--In addition to acquiring Yu Darvish and Tony Watson, the Dodgers landed veteran left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani in a deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

The 28-year-old Cingrani was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 25 relief apperances with Cincinnati before the trade.

Texas also made another lesser deal, shipping right-hander Jeremy Jeffress to the Milwaukee Brewers for right-hander Tayler Scott.

Darvish dealt: Dodgers acquire prized ace from Rangers

Yu Darvish is on the move, after all.

Minutes after Darvish posted a picture of himself standing next to his Rangers locker on Twitter, Texas traded the four-time All-Star to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.

The Japanese-born right-hander posted a caption of "10min!!!" with his Twitter selfie, a reference to Monday's impending 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline.

Texas received outfielder Willie Calhoun, right-hander A.J. Alexy and infielder Brendon Davis in exchange for Darvish.

Fox Sports was first to report the trade.

Darvish, 30, bolsters a red-hot Dodgers squad that boasts the best record in the majors (74-31) and is currently without injured ace Clayton Kershaw (back). He is 6-9 with a 4.01 ERA and 148 strikeouts through 22 starts this season.

In five major league seasons, Darvish has posted a 52-39 record with a 3.42 ERA and 960 strikeouts in 122 career starts, all with Texas.

Darvish led the American League in strikeouts with a career-high 277 in 2013. He originally signed with the Rangers on Jan. 18, 2012 after spending seven seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.

To create room on the 40-man roster for Darvish, the Dodgers designated infielder/outfielder Mike Freeman for assignment.

Los Angeles also acquired left-handed relief pitcher Tony Watson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-handed pitcher Angel German and infielder Oneil Cruz.

Watson, 32, went 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA and 10 saves over 47 relief apperances this season with the Pirates.

Additionally, the Dodgers landed veteran left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani in a deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

The 28-year-old Cingrani was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 25 relief apperances with Cincinnati before the trade.

Texas made one other lesser deal before the deadline, shipping right-hander Jeremy Jeffress to the Milwaukee Brewers for right-hander Tayler Scott.

LEADING OFF: Will Gray, Darvish go or stay on deadline day?

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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DEAL 'EM UP

Sonny Gray, Yu Darvish and Justin Verlander have been mentioned as possible trade targets as the 4 p.m. EDT deadline nears for making deals without waivers. So, too, has dominant Baltimore closer Zach Britton.

In the past few weeks, J.D. Martinez, Todd Frazier, Melky Cabrera, Jonathan Lucroy and others have been dealt - lefty Jaime Garcia has been traded twice, from Atlanta to Minnesota to the Yankees.

Arizona already got Martinez, and might be tempted to make another move after infielder Chris Owings broke his finger trying to bunt Sunday.

JUDGE'S SLUMP

Talk of Yankees rookie Aaron Judge contending for a Triple Crown has faded since his prodigious display at the All-Star Home Run Derby. Since the break, Judge is hitting .158 (9 for 57) with 25 strikeouts. He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk on Sunday. His 33 homers still lead the AL, but his average has dropped to .302, 65 points behind league leader Jose Altuve, going into the series opener vs. Detroit.

CLIMB THAT CHART

Now that Adrian Beltre has gotten his 3,000 hit, he can quickly move up the all-time list. He's tied with Roberto Clemente for 30th place - next up are Al Kaline (3,007) and Wade Boggs (3,010). Beltre and Texas are set to face Felix Hernandez and the Mariners.

RAYS PEN

The Tampa Bay Rays and their new-look bullpen head to Houston as they try to make up ground in the AL wild-card race. Tampa Bay has traded for relievers Sergio Romo, Dan Jennings and Steve Cishek - who combined for three hitless innings in a win over the Yankees on Sunday - and designated hitter Lucas Duda, who's off to a 7 for 12 start. Facing the Astros, who have the best record in the AL, the Rays will start Alex Cobb (9-6, 3.46 ERA) against Charlie Morton (8-4, 3.83).

LEADING OFF: Darvish Texas Finale? Cobb on mound for Rays

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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DARVISH TEXAS FINALE?

Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish makes his final scheduled start before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline with growing speculation that the potential free agent could be dealt to another team. Darvish (6-8, 3.44 ERA) faces Miami and Ichiro Suzuki, another standout player from Japan. Darvish, an All-Star this year for the fourth time in his five seasons played in Texas, is 0-4 with a 4.26 ERA in his last seven starts. He struck out a season-high 12 over eight innings at Tampa Bay last Friday. His only career shutout - and only nine-inning complete game - came the only time he previously faced the Marlins three years ago.

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YOUTH MOVEMENT

The Tampa Bay Rays will have their 500th consecutive start by a pitcher under 30 years old, the major leagues' longest current run, when 29-year-old Alex Cobb faces the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Catcher Wilson Ramos is expected to be behind the plate for the game, two days after being cut on the head by a piece of Ruben Tejada's broken bat. The cut required seven staples.

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BEEN A LONG TIME

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada starts against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, hoping to win for the first time since May 27. Estrada is 0-5 with a 9.52 ERA in nine starts since beating Texas on May 27.

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