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
