ARLINGTON, Texas – Yu Darvish is coming to America to pitch.

Japan’s best pitcher and the Texas Rangers agreed before Wednesday’s deadline to a $60 million, six-year contract. In addition to the salary, the Rangers will pay a posting fee of $51,703,411 to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan’s Pacific League.

“We look at this as really a perfect fit,” GM Jon Daniels said. “Obviously he has yet to pitch in the major leagues, but we feel he has proven himself on a big stage. … It’s all winning.”

The deal came at the end of a 30-day negotiating window that began Dec. 19 when the Rangers’ bid to negotiate with the pitcher was accepted.

Had a deal not been reached, Darvish would have remained with the Fighters. And Texas, which has been to consecutive World Series without winning the title, would have kept the posting fee that ends with the jersey numbers of Rangers President and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan (34) and Darvish (11).

When the deal was reached in Texas by his agents Don Nomura and Arn Tellem, the 25-year-old Darvish was home in Japan, where he returned for offseason training after his first and only visit to Texas two weeks ago. The Rangers plan to formally introduce Darvish on Friday night.

Tellem said the Rangers not only spent more time than any other team scouting Darvish, but also built a personal relationship while scouting him. He said the pitcher is excited about the opportunity in Texas.

“It’s a great team that’s been on the door step, and hopefully with Yu coming they will finally reach the goal of winning a World Series,” Tellem said. “Yu is excited about helping a team that has not won achieve that goal. … He’s really thrilled to be coming here. This is where he wanted to be.”

Darvish, a right-hander, had a 93-38 record with a 1.99 ERA over the past seven seasons in Japan.

ROCKIES: Jamie Moyer agreed to terms on a minor league contract with an invite to Colorado’s spring training, pending a physical.

Moyer, a 49-year-old lefty, didn’t play last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.

Moyer has played 24 major league seasons, starting with the Chicago Cubs in 1986. He went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA for Philadelphia in 2010.

ASTROS: Outfielder Jack Cust agreed to a $600,000, one-year contract with Houston after getting released by Seattle and Philadelphia last year.

Cust, 33, hit .213 with three homers and 23 RBI in 67 games for the Mariners, who released him on Aug. 4.

The Phillies signed him to a minor league contract eight days later, then cut him on Aug. 21.

Cust has spent time at designated hitter, which the Astros will need when they move to the American League in 2013.

MAJOR LEAGUE Baseball says former umpire Marty Springstead has died. He was 74.

The commissioner’s office said Springstead was found dead at his home in Florida on Tuesday night.

A native of Nyack, N.Y., Springstead was an American League umpire from 1966-85 and worked the World Series in 1973, 1978 and 1983. After retiring from the field, he became the AL’s executive director of umpires, then worked as an umpire supervisor for MLB after umpire staffs from the leagues merged.

He retired from his management position before the 2010 season.

MARINERS: Seattle signed left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez to a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training.

Perez spent all of the 2011 season pitching for Double-A Harrisburg in the Washington Nationals’ organization.

Before his season in the minors, the 30-year-old Perez spent five seasons with the New York Mets. He also pitched for Pittsburgh and San Diego in his career. He has a career record of 58-69 with a 4.63 ERA.

Perez pitched in 23 games in the Mexican Winter League this offseason and allowed just one earned run in 14 1/3 innings with 19 strikeouts.