SURPRISE, Ariz. Ted Williams Jersey . -- If Yu Darvish is feeling any pressure after leading the majors in strikeouts last season, it isnt showing. The Texas Rangers ace was even in a joking mood Tuesday at spring training. Darvish wisecracked that the New York Yankees might have paid too much for fellow Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka by giving him a seven-year, $155 million contract on top of a $20 million posting fee to the Rakuten Golden Eagles. The deal made Darvish No. 2 when it comes to Japanese players in the majors: He has a six-year, $56 million deal signed before the 2012 season after the Rangers paid $51.7 million to Hokkaido for the right to negotiate with him. "I dont know the details of the posting system, but I think the Yankees gave him a little bit too much," Darvish said with a chuckle through his interpreter during his first spring training session with reporters. Even before the session was done, the remark was all over social media and the Rangers released a statement to make sure everyone knew Darvish was kidding. "I am sorry if anyone took my comment seriously about Masahiro Tanaka at the press conference," Darvish said in the statement. "I assumed by the reaction in the room that everyone knew I was joking." The 27-year-old Darvish could opt out of his contact after five years if he wins a Cy Young Award and potentially get a contract exceeding that of Tanaka. He came close last year, finishing second to Max Scherzer in the balloting after leading the majors with 277 strikeouts -- the most since Randy Johnson struck out 290 in 2004 with Arizona. Darvish, who manager Ron Washington has already named the opening day starter, was 13-9 with a 2.83 ERA in 32 starts last season. "If we score him runs, he might win 35 games and hes only going to get 32 starts," Washington said. Darvish lost four 1-0 decisions, the first pitcher to do that in a season since Orel Hershiser with the 1989 Dodgers. "Never once did he ever make any whimpers of, Boy it sure would be nice to get some runs, never once," pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "Thats the kind of teammate he is. Hes going to go out and do the best he can and wants everyone else to the best they can." The Rangers averaged 3.08 runs per game in Darvishs final 23 starts. "The game is something you cant control, so you cant be pessimistic or optimistic," Darvish said. "The main thing is to keep yourself healthy. If youre healthy enough, I think numbers are going to follow. The outcome is something that is a result of having a healthy season. I cant really control what goes on in a game situation." Darvish went on the 15-day disabled list last July with a right shoulder strain and was bothered by back nerve irritation in September. Darvish said he shied away from heavy lifting during the off-season to help the back. His lack of fastball command, which gets his pitch count up early, has been a concern. "Youll probably see during the course of the season how much I have improved," Darvish said. "Im more relaxed and I can do many things at my own pace and Im aware of whats going on and people know me better than in the past." An improved Darvish could equate to a blockbuster contract. No joke. Notes: RHP Tanner Scheppers (back spasms) and LHP Matt Harrison (stiff neck) were held out of throwing Tuesday. .2B Jurickson Profars right shoulder is still stiff, preventing him from throwing. He likely will be limited to DH duties until mid-March for exhibition games. Pedro Martinez Jersey . The alleged sexual assault is believed to have happened over the weekend of Feb. 1, when the hockey team was in Thunder Bay for two games against Lakehead University. The criminal investigation branch of the Thunder Bay Police Service is leading the investigation with help from Ottawa police. Luis Tiant Jersey . The veteran NFL receiver received his work permit and is in Montreal for the start of the Alouettes rookie camp. Johnson even took in the Montreal Canadiens Game 5 win over the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre Tuesday night. http://www.theredsoxteamshop.com/Red-Sox-Joe-Kelly-Kids-Jersey/ . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics.Jamie Murray has reached the top of the doubles world rankings, but its been a long and winding road for the Scot who been through a mind-boggling 63 partners in 13 years. The 30-year-old has risen from 1,266 in May 2003 to world No 1 when the rankings are updated on April 4 playing alongside the likes of former Australian Open singles semi-finalist Nicolas Lapentti, two-time former French Open doubles finalist Pavel Vizner and 2002 Wimbledon singles semi-finalist Xavier Malisse to name a few.He has been riding on a crest of a wave of late with Davis Cup success quickly followed by his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and he will now become the first British player to be officially ranked as No 1 in the world to cap off a memorable couple of years. Jamie Murray on top of world Jamie Murray will become the first British player to reach world No 1 But it hasnt been easy ride for the older Murray brother who has travelled the globe playing Future and Challenger tournaments in order to reach his ultimate goal.Here we pick out a few of Murrays doubles partners who have helped him climb to the very top of the game...Bruno Soares Jamie Murray [left] and Brazils Bruno Soares pose with the Australian Open mens doubles trophy Murray never looked like he would ever lift his first Grand Slam title - that was until he teamed up alongside Brazilian Soares at the start of this year.They reached the Doha semi-finals in their first event together and then followed that up with victory at the Sydney International before landing the coveted Australian Open doubles title just a few weeks later. Andy watches his brother Jamie win in the early hours of the morning at Melbourne Park His brother Andy couldnt stay away from Melbourne Park, despite the fact he had his own major final to prepare for, and was in the crowd at 1am to watch the doubles presentation. After the match Jamie said he had been inspired by his younger siblings success.Did it motivate me? I think so. I guess it encourages you, inspires you, when you see all the amazing things he does out on the court for the last 10 years, Murray said.You see how hard he works to get the results that he has had. Its kind of told me to kind of get a shift on, put in the time, as well, do what was necessary to try to get the best results for your career.John Peers Murray and John Peers won three titles in their first year together The Australian had been Murrays regular doubles partner since 2012 and they enjoyed a stellar time together on the ATP Tour winning in Houston, Gstaad and Bangkok in their first season together.They went on to claim a further three titles over the next two years carrying them to the season-ending ATP World Tour finals in London in December. Fleming: Jamie a great story Sky Sports tennis pundit Peter Fleming hails Jamie Murrays achievement But the downside was their struggle to close out the biggest matches - such as the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open. They were the bridesmaid on both occasions as well as a remarkable 10 times on the Tour, including six times in 2015 alone.On the decision to split with Peers, Murray said: Its kind of mutual. I think were both looking to do something else. Thats it. Thats life. We take the decision and we move on. Maybe it will turn out to be a good decision, maybe it will turn out to be a bad decision. I dont know. Thats what weve come to. We look ahead now and look forward to starting new partnerships with new players.Paul Hanley Murray [left] and Paul Hanley reached the final in Montpellier Before Peers, Murray played with 15 different partners in 2012 and enjoyed a brief spell alongside Australian Hanley, who reached the 2005 Wimbledon and 2011 Australian Open finals in mixed doubles. Jim Rice Jersey. The pair reached the final in Montpellier that year, but lost out in two tight sets to experienced French duo Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.Andre Sa Andre Sa won the Moselle Open with Murray Murray and Brazilian partner Sa won their debut tournament with victory at the Moselle Open in Metz five years ago - but that was as good as things got.Sa had previously enjoyed success with the man Murray toppled to become world No 1 Marcelo Melo - winning five titles together.Max Mirnyi Giant Belarussian Max Mirnyi enjoyed Delray Beach success with Jamie Murray clinched his first crown with his Belarussian partner Mirnyi at the Delray Beach International in 2008, seeing off the challenge of top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in three sets.It was so important to have won Delray, even though its not a top tier tournament, said Mirnyi. But to have beaten the Bryans in the final, that meant so much to both of us, and to the rest the field out there. We made a big statement.The partnership soon ran into trouble after a series of first-round defeats in the autumn and they abandoned their plans of striking up a regular partnership.Eric Butorac Murray [left] and Eric Butorac pose for a picture at Surbiton Tennis Club Murray lost out to the brilliant Bryan brothers at the LA Open in 2006 playing alongside American southpaw Eric Booty Butorac, but the understanding between the pair looked to be a winning combination.A year later the US-Scots pair claimed their first doubles title in a Challenger event in Dallas before going on to claim three tournament wins in San Jose, Memphis and Nottingham.Despite the success, the partnership came to an abrupt end and Murrays form went into a sharp decline, winning only four titles in the next five years.Andy Murray Andy Murray [left] and Jamie were victorious in Valencia Sibling rivalries are firmly put to one side when it comes to team tennis, as the Bryan brothers have proven. Jamie and Andy displayed instant telepathy and combination at the highest level and it all came to fruition against Belgium in Ghent.They first enjoyed success together in 2010 when they teamed up to win in Valencia. This was Jamies first win on the top level of the tour for over two years and the first time that he had won a doubles title with his brother - four years previously they lost out to top Israeli doubles pairing Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich in Bangkok. Jamie Murray [left] and Andy were Davis Cup heroes for Great Britain Their biggest achievement together arrived in the Davis Cup final in December when they were part of the first British winning team in the competition for 79 years.They remain undefeated as a pair in the team tournament with five wins from five doubles rubbers together.Watch the Miami Open on Sky Sports 3 HD - your home of tennisBy purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices. Also See: Fleming: Jamie a great story Jamie Murray on top of world ' ' '