The Rangers won negotiating rights with a $51.7 million bid that will now be paid to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Texas was able to come to an agreement with Darvish before a 5 p.m. ET Wednesday deadline.

The deal is the largest for a player joining the Major Leagues through the posting system. It tops the deal of Daisuke Matsuzaka, who left the Seibu Lions after the 2006 season, when he was 26. He signed a six-year, $52 million contract with the Red Sox, who paid a $51.1 million posting fee to Seibu.