Yu Darvish's future remains uncertain; contract buyout and retirement could become potential options.

The Padres concentrated nearly all their offseason acquisitions on pitchers, particularly starters. This was driven both by Dylan Cease leaving for the Toronto Blue Jays in free agency and by the unclear situation surrounding Yu Darvish.

During the offseason, the Padres lost Cease and closer Robert Suarez (who joined the Atlanta Braves). Of the six players they recently signed, all except the KBO star Sung-Mun Song are pitchers. The starting rotation additions include returning ace Michael King, Kyle Hart who came back from the KBO and signed a one-year extension, and Triston McKenzie on a minor league deal. In relief, they brought in Ty Adcock and Daison Acosta.

Although King's return gives the starting rotation some structure, the team still plans to further deepen the rotation, highlighting the Padres' urgent need to strengthen their starting pitching.

This need centers on Yu Darvish's condition. The 39-year-old underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery in November and will miss the entire 2026 season at minimum. When he returns in 2027, he will be 40 years old, while his contract with the Padres runs through 2028.

More importantly, Darvish recently stated that he currently has no intention to pitch again in the major leagues and is focusing on rehabilitation. "If one day I truly feel the desire to return and believe I can stand on the mound again, then I will try. For now, this is the end." This implies that even by 2027, there is a possibility he might not return or may retire altogether. This poses a heavy financial burden for the Padres, who are already tight on funds and must pay him $46 million over the next three years.

As a result, reports have suggested that if Darvish ultimately decides not to pitch anymore, the Padres might consider a contract buyout similar to what the Los Angeles Angels did with Anthony Rendon. Such a move could potentially bring considerable benefits.

This is mainly based on Darvish’s attitude toward money throughout his career. Known for his generosity, in 2024 during a personal leave in Japan, he voluntarily gave up about $4 million in salary over 48 days (approximately 28.5 million RMB). In other words, if buyout negotiations occur, Darvish might adopt a more favorable approach for the Padres. This would ease the team's financial pressure and free up funds for future roster improvements.