Geovany Soto will catch most of Yu Darvish's starts this coming season, according to Ron Washington.

Soto was behind the plate as Darvish made an impressive run down the stretch last season, going 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA in his final eight outings.

The Rangers re-signed Soto to a one-year, $2.75 million contract earlier this offseason.

"I just think they had a good communication and a good relationship," Washington said.

"I think Soto was in Darvish's head to the point that whatever Darvish felt like he wanted to do, Soto was doing it. They meshed very well. Soto had a way of relaxing a lot of pitchers he caught, not only Yu Darvish. I don't know much Japanese Soto knows, but he went out there and said something. I don't know if Yu understood, but it relaxed him."