ARLINGTON, Texas _ Yu Darvish agreed to the Rangers' wishes and withdrew from the All-Star Game on Friday.
Darvish is scheduled to start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. According to the labor agreement, an All-Star starting pitcher who works on Sunday must be available for the game on Tuesday. The Rangers had an easy time, manager Jeff Banister said, convincing Darvish that it would be in his best interests to skip an All-Star appearance.
The Rangers based the request on a desire to keep Darvish healthy for the entire season. In his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Darvish leads the club with 1111/3 innings. He will get two extra days of rest before his first start of the second half, at Kansas City on July 16.
"He would love to be able to pitch in the All-Star Game," Banister said. "We're worried about winning games. He is all in on winning."
Darvish, who was unavailable for comment, is expected to go to Miami and participate in All-Star activities. He will collect a $50,000 bonus for being selected to the team.
This marks the first time since 1972 that the Rangers will not have an active player in the All-Star Game. Their selection, shortstop Toby Harrah, was injured in the week before the game and was replaced by Oakland's Bert Campaneris.
Three other starters who will pitch on Sunday _ Cleveland's Corey Kluber, Detroit's Michael Fulmer and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw _ also opted not to participate in the game.
