Yu Darvish has decided not to play for the Padres in 2026 and will not receive his salary for the season. The 39-year-old right-handed pitcher will miss the entire 2026 campaign as he recovers from elbow surgery. San Diego plans to place Darvish on the restricted list, a designation for players under contract who cannot play due to injuries or other reasons. This move will free up a significant portion of the team’s salary cap, allowing general manager A.J. Preller to allocate funds to address other roster needs. The restricted list allows the Padres to retain Darvish’s rights without paying him during his absence. By forfeiting his $16 million salary for 2026, Darvish is effectively helping the team manage its payroll. The Padres’ projected 2026 payroll was around $255 million, ranking eighth in Major League Baseball. With Darvish’s salary removed, the team gains flexibility to pursue free-agent additions, particularly in the starting rotation. The Padres’ rotation is currently undermanned, and they are linked to free-agent righty Lucas Giolito, a top-tier pitcher available on the market. Giolito, who pitched for the Red Sox in 2025, posted a 3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts in 145 innings. His previous elbow surgery in 2024 limited him to just 10 starts that season, and he will be sidelined for 2026 as well. The Padres’ pursuit of Giolito could be accelerated by the financial relief provided by Darvish’s decision. Darvish’s decision to sit out 2026 is not a retirement move. He has not indicated plans to end his career, though his 2025 season was hampered by elbow issues. In 2024, he made 15 starts for the Padres, posting a 7–3 record and a 3.31 ERA. His 2025 campaign was more challenging, with a 5–5 record and a 5.38 ERA.#a_j_preller #yu_darvish #lucas_giolito #san_diego #padres
Padres Place Yu Darvish On Restricted List The San Diego Padres officially announced their Opening Day roster on Wednesday, confirming several roster decisions that had been speculated earlier in the season. The most significant move involves placing starting pitcher Yu Darvish on the restricted list, a decision first reported by ESPN’s Alden González. This placement marks a shift from the initial expectation that Darvish would spend the 2026 season on the 60-day injured list following elbow surgery in November. Darvish, who will not pitch in 2026, has been placed on the restricted list, a designation used for players under contract who are unavailable to play due to various reasons. While the restricted list is often associated with suspensions, it is also used for players temporarily away from the team for personal matters. Unlike the injured list, players on the restricted list do not count against a team’s 40-man roster, and teams are not obligated to pay their salaries during this period. However, it remains unclear whether the Padres will continue to pay Darvish any portion of his $15 million salary. The decision appears to be part of ongoing negotiations between the Padres, Darvish’s camp, and the MLB Players Association to terminate the remaining three years of his contract, which includes $43 million in guaranteed payments through 2028. Darvish had previously expressed interest in retiring but confirmed in January that discussions about ending his contract were underway. The Padres are likely seeking a buyout or deferral to reduce payroll and luxury tax liabilities, with free-agent pitcher Lucas Giolito, still unsigned, emerging as a potential target for teams needing rotation depth. This is not the first time Darvish has been placed on the restricted list.#san_diego_padres #yu_darvish #mlb_players_association #joel_wolfe #lucas_giolito
