If Yu Darvish wins a Cy Young in any of the next three years, he will have the ability to opt out of his contract with the Texas Rangers a season early.

That means the right-hander would become a free agent before 2017. The possibility looms large for the Rangers as Darvish looks like a perennial Cy Young candidate.

Darvish ranks in the top five in the American League in ERA (2.11), strikeouts (101), opponents' batting average (.218) and began Wednesday in the top five in the league in pitching wins above replacement (WAR).