Yu Darvish says he’s excited to be Ranger

Yu Darvish leaned over and looked at his name and the No. 11 on the back of his Texas Rangers jersey. Then he looked up and smiled.

“Excited, that’s all I feel right now,” Darvish said through a translator. “Just excited going forward.”

Japan’s best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Arlington, Texas, coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.

The 25-year-old Darvish, who excelled in Japan’s Pacific League the past seven seasons, said he wasn’t prepared to go into specifics about the several different reasons why he decided to make the move to United States now. But he said he felt no pressure and planned to keep an open mind and be relaxed — with his new team and shifting to another country.

“I have no worries,” he said. “What I’m looking forward to is a different environment, a different league and different hitters. I’m looking forward to it full of excitement.”

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The Tampa Bay Rays added a familiar bat to the middle of their lineup. A person with knowledge of the agreement said slugger Carlos Pena agreed to a $7.25-million, one-year contract to return to the team for which he posted impressive power numbers for four seasons. Pena played with the Rays from 2007 to 2010, helping them reach the playoffs twice before signing as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs for $10 million last season.

In addition to bolstering the offense with a bat that hit 144 homers and drove in 407 runs during Pena’s first stint in Tampa Bay, the Rays filled the need for an everyday first baseman. Pena won a Gold Glove in 2008.

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Outfielder Michael Morse agreed to a two-year contract worth about $10.5 million with the Washington Nationals, avoiding arbitration.

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The Indians acquired right-hander Kevin Slowey from Colorado, a move prompted by Fausto Carmona’s arrest in the Dominican Republic.

The Indians sent reliever Zach Putnam and cash to the Rockies for Slowey, who pitched for Minnesota last season and was traded to Colorado on Dec. 6. Slowey gives the Indians an experienced arm in case Carmona, who has been accused of using a false identity to play in the U.S., can’t pitch.

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Right-handed relief pitcher Sergio Romo and the San Francisco Giants settled on a $1,575,000, one-year contract to avoid an arbitration hearing.

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Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $2.8-million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.

ETC.

Lehman, Vaughan share lead

Tom Lehman and Bruce Vaughan each shot seven-under 65 to share the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii. Lehman, the player of the year last season on the 50-and-over tour, birdied the final hole at Hualalai Resort to match Vaughan at the top of the leaderboard. Brad Faxon, Loren Roberts, Corey Pavin and Jay Haas were a stroke back.

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South Africa’s Branden Grace moved closer to a second straight victory, taking a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Volvo Golf Champions at George, South Africa. He shot a seven-under 66, leaving him at 12-under 134 total at the Links at Fancourt. South Africa’s Thomas Aiken (70) and England’s Lee Slattery (65) were at eight under. European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal shot a 68 and pulled into contention at seven under.

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Abby Wambach was voted the U.S. Soccer Federation’s female athlete of the year for the fifth time, matching Mia Hamm’s record. Clint Dempsey was voted top male athlete for the first time since 2007.

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Yale University has tightened its policy on tailgating after a Massachusetts woman was killed and two others injured when a truck drove through a tailgating area at the Harvard-Yale football game in November. Yale officials said kegs will no longer be permitted at university athletic events or functions. They said the policy is consistent with practices at many other universities, including Princeton and Harvard.