The deadline for teams to bid on negotiating rights for 25-year-old Japanese right-handed power pitcher Yu Darvish ended earlier this evening.

But the mystery of who may have won those exclusive rights still remains unknown.

However, what we do know is that the offer is astronomical (possibly $150 million including the posting fee), and that while the Yankees, Rangers, Cubs and Blue Jays are the only known clubs to make a bid, the Giants, Athletics, Marlins, Mets,  Angels, Twins, Red Sox and Orioles are all out of the running, according to reports that appeared all over Twitter and multiple blog posts late Wednesday night.

Latest On Bids For Yu Darvish http://t.co/yZrCec5i #mlb

December 15, 2011 12:19 am via twitterfeedReplyRetweetFavorite

@mlbtraderumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Now the U.S. commissioner's office will notify its Japanese counterpart of the amount of the highest bid, but will not reveal the identity of the club that made the offer.

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, with whom Darvish is employed,  will then have until 5 p.m. EST on December 20 to accept or reject the offer,  sending their answer back to the MLB who will announce the team that won the rights.

That club will have 30 days to agree to strike a deal, or Darvish will go back to Japan.

The 6-foot-5 Darvish who throws a fastball in the mid to upper-90s, was 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA and a league-leading 276 strikeouts in 232 innings last season, and has yet to post an ERA above 2.00 since 2007.

So will we be seeing Darvish in pinstripes next season? I guess will have to wait a little longer to find out.

Is Griffey on the Move?

Update: Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Griffey has approved the trade while other sources indicate that the prospects the Reds will receive are Danny Richar and Nick Masset.

New Reds GM Walt Jockety had a knack for pulling off surprise deals while he was with St. Louis. It appears he's picked up right where he left off with the Reds.

The White Sox and Reds have reportedly agreed to a deal that will send Griffey to the first place Sox. Griffey still has to decide whether to approve the trade and is expected to make that decision this morning.

Griffey is batting .245 with 15 HR and 53 RBI and will likely man center field for the Sox if he does accept the trade.

At 38, even after all the injuries he's had to deal with, the future Hall of Famer doesn't play every day but he still owns the sweetest swing I've ever seen and I personally hope he accepts the deal. The Reds are obviously going nowhere and it would be nice to see Jr. make the playoffs and have a shot at that elusive World Series title.

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The Houston Astros (inexplicably acting like buyers) have traded for reliever LaTroy Hawkins from the New York Yankees in exchange for class A second baseman, Matt Cusick.

I've been incredibly confused by the Astros' actions over the past couple of weeks. Hawkins is 1-1 with an ERA of 5.71 and will be a free agent at the end of the year. Hawkins has reportedly been pitching better as of late but I still can't understand what the hell the Astros think they're doing. I mean, do they really think a right handed reliever with an ERA over 5 is going to help them make up the 9.5 games between them and a playoff spot?

Astro fans, you have my pitty. Not only are you having a rough year, but your GM is apparently delusional. Enjoy!

The New York Yankees recently lost Jorge Posada to season ending surgery, so what do they do? They go out and get another perennial all-star to take his spot.

The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees have reportedly agreed to a deal that will send Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to the Yankees in exchange for pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.

While most deals around this time of year involve so called "sellers" pairing up with "buyers", this trade simply addresses a need for both "buyers." The Yankees will be getting a catcher batting .295 with 32 RBI while the Tigers plug a gap in their bullpen with a right handed reliever with a 3.65 ERA and 11 holds in 45 appearances this year.

At first blush, I'd have to give this trade to the Yankees. Not only are they picking up a catcher hitting nearly .300 (which are rare), but Pudge could conceivably be labeled a Type A free agent giving the Yanks two draft picks if and when they lose the catcher to free agency. Not bad a bad return for a journeyman reliever.

There are officially 24 hours to go until the non-waiver trade deadline.

24 Hours to Go Until the Trade Deadline

I'll be updating as much as possible over the next day but please feel free to drop me an email to

info at yoursportsfix.com

if you hear of a rumor I haven't covered here yet. Please include a link to the source if possible.

Thanks, and hold on to your seats - we might still see a couple of blockbusters!