Arms race for elite pitching trio

The defection of Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman has returned his name to the spotlight just four months after he blew scouts away in the second World Baseball Classic. But the tournament also featured top Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. In fact, over the course of five days in March, an enterprising fan could have seen Chapman, Darvish and eventual No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg all pitching in San Diego. Strasburg is now under control to the Nationals and Chapman should be a free agent within the next six months, leaving Darvish as the only one of the troika without an ETA on these shores.

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Keith Law

ESPN Insider

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• Senior baseball analyst for Insider
• Was special asst. to Blue Jays GM
• Wrote for Baseball Prospectus