Texas Rangers Sign Free Agent Japanese Pitcher Yu Darvish

The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with free agent Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish on a six-year, $60 million deal.

Texas won negotiating rights with a $51.7 million bid that will now be paid to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, as Darvish and the Rangers were able to reach an agreement prior to the 5 p.m. ET Wednesday deadline.

The two-time defending American League champion Rangers added the 25-year-old Darvish to help sure up a rotation that lost C.J. Wilson to the division rival Angels.

Darvish was 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA in 28 games for the Fighters last season. He pitched 232 innings and struck out 276 batters. It was his fifth straight season of pitching at least 180 innings and finishing with an ERA of under 1.90.

Darvish also pitched for Japan's national team in the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He has won two Most Valuable Player Awards in Japan's Pacific League and has twice been named the top pitcher.