Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. " data-image="https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/16603559.jpg" data-post-date="2017/12/21">

Report: Yankees, Dodgers remain interested in Yu Darvish

Former Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers remain interested in free agent starter Yu Darvish but only if they can lower their payroll, according to a new report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers also have spoken to Darvish about a potential deal.

Rosenthal expects that Darvish will receive somewhere between $20 million and $25 million per season on his new contract which could be problematic for the Yankees and Dodgers. But he has a couple ideas for how those teams could make a deal with Darvish work.

“One way would be by shedding other salaries,” Rosenthal wrote. “Another would be by giving Darvish a longer term to lower his luxury-tax number, which is determined by average annual value.”

Darvish, 31, split time with the Rangers and Dodgers last season. In 31 starts, he had a 3.86 ERA with 209 strikeouts.

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