Brewers make offer to Japanese pitcher Darvish: reports

Yu Darvish, the Japanese pitcher who endured a nightmare World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, has received a contract offer from Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers, according to multiple reports Monday. The 31-year-old right-hander tweeted a Japanese report of the deal with a thinking-face emoji while MLB's website also reported the Brewers had submitted a contract to consider. The club has not commented but the Brewers could use pitching help with ace Jimmy Nelson working his way back after right shoulder surgery last September. Darvish has a 3.42 earned-run average over 131 starts in five North American campaigns. He went 10-12 with a 3.86 ERA in 31 combined starts last year for the Dodgers and Texas Rangers, striking out 209 batters over 186 2/3 innings. The Houston Astros pounded Darvish in the World Series, however, taking him for nine runs on nine hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings in two starts for the Dodgers that each ended abruptly in the second inning, including the decisive game seven.