For the Twins, Saturday afternoon brought the disappointing, if not altogether surprising, news that the Chicago Cubs had outspent and outmaneuvered them for the top starting pitcher on a historically slow-moving free-agent market.

It’s not Yu, it’s them, Twins officials likely heard at some point from the Yu Darvish camp.

According to multiple reports, the 31-year-old Japanese right-hander agreed to a six-year, $126 million guarantee with the chance to earn close to an additional $25 million via performance bonuses. Related Articles Rich Hill turns in solid start, but Cubs shut out Twins at Wrigley

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The Twins reportedly joined the Milwaukee Brewers among long-shot bidders willing to offer nine-figure packages to Darvish, who missed all of 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and pitched to a 21.60 earned-run average in two ghastly starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first World Series last fall. A sixth guaranteed year likely was the stumbling block for the Twins, who have never pledged more than $55 million to a single pitcher (Ervin Santana) on the open market.

Another issue could have been Darvish’s desire for an opt-out clause, which ESPN reported the Cubs’ agreement contains after the first or second year.

Twins general manager Thad Levine, who knows Darvish well from their time with the Texas Rangers, said in December he “would strongly prefer not to engage” in opt-out provisions despite having been party to the one Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus received in an eight-year, $120 million agreement in 2013.

“By definition doesn’t a player stay with you if he’s performing at a value less than what you’re paying him and he’ll walk if he’s performing at a value above it?” Levine said. “So I don’t know where the benefit is to the club. It seems to me very, very advantageous to the player and would have to take something unique in a negotiation to feel like that’s the right move.”

The Twins, who sent a contingent to meet with Darvish in Texas this winter, could now turn their attention to right-hander Jake Arrieta, the former Cubs ace whose place Darvish will take in the rotation. Agent Scott Boras, with whom the Twins have a refurbished relationship after drafting high school shortstop Royce Lewis first overall last June, represents Arrieta (as well as Andrus) and could seek to top the Darvish deal for his client.

From there, most evaluators feel there’s a significant drop to the next two starting pitchers on the open market: Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn. Like Darvish, both have already had Tommy John surgeries, but their repertoires and resumes don’t figure to merit more than a four-year guarantee in either case.

A rival club official said Saturday he still expected the Twins to land a starting pitcher but was “not sure which level they go to.”

The Twins continue to explore trade options, including right-handers Jake Odorizzi and Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays (Cobb’s former team). However, the player cost for Archer would be prohibitive and just two years of club control (via arbitration) remain for Odorizzi.

It was that same issue of control that caused the Twins to limit the scope of their offers in trade talks with the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-hander Gerrit Cole, who eventually landed with the Houston Astros in mid-January for a surprisingly modest four-player package.

At $21 million, the average annual value on Darvish’s deal with the Cubs falls well short of projections at the start of the winter. MLB Trade Rumors had pegged Darvish at six years and $160 million, a figure he could still approach should he max out his bonuses.

From Levine calling Darvish a “priority” in November to recent comments by club owner Jim Pohlad, the Twins made no secret of their interest in the game’s top strikeout weapon among starters. At TwinsFest last month, Pohlad pronounced himself “totally on board” with a Darvish pursuit.

“I’m as intrigued by it as anybody and attracted to it as anybody,” Pohlad said. “It’s got to be a deal that makes sense. We kind of know where we could be willing to be, but that doesn’t mean that’s where Yu would.”

With a projected Opening Day payroll in the $104 million range, the Twins currently project a starting rotation this season at a combined cost of $32.5 million. That includes Santana ($13.5 million) and oft-injured right-hander Phil Hughes ($13.2 million) along with Kyle Gibson, who will earn no worse than $4.2 million via arbitration.

Twins pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout on Valentine’s Day in Fort Myers, Fla. Opening Day is March 29 at Baltimore’s Camden Yards, where 23-year-old Jose Berrios could become the Twins’ youngest Opening Day starter since Brad Radke in 1996.

Santana, the Twins’ Opening Day starter the past two years, could be out until early May after recent surgery on the middle finger of his pitching hand. That setback also figures to make it difficult for him to again reach the 200-inning mark required to cause his $14 million club option for 2019 to automatically vest.