Darvish cleared for offseason throwing program

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Rangers ace Yu Darvish has been cleared to start his offseason throwing program.

Darvish, who missed the last seven weeks of the season because of inflammation in his right elbow, had an MRI and was examined Tuesday by team physician Dr. Keith Meister.

Texas said Darvish already is in his normal offseason training program and expects to start throwing in early December, as he usually does.

Darvish had been home in Japan but returned for the exam. He is expected to spend at least the next several weeks working out in Texas.

The right-hander didn't pitch after Aug. 9. He was 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA and 182 strikeouts over 144 1-3 innings in 22 starts in his third major league season.

Darvish was put on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 13. He was shut down for the season Sept. 6 with the Rangers on way to 95 losses and a last-place finish in the AL West.

Texas also announced Tuesday that the club had finalized selling the contracts of outfielder-first baseman Jim Adduci and pitchers Miles Mikolas and Aaron Poreda to professional leagues overseas. The three players were released by the Rangers last week after agreeing to the transactions.

Adduci is going to the Lotte Giants in South Korea, and Mikolas and Poreda to the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League.