1. Darvish is considering retirement:
Last weekend Padres were right-handed Yu Darvish clarified reports that he was on the verge of retirement by noting that while he has indeed considered calling it a career, he has not yet made a final decision. Negotiations between himself, the Padres and the MLBPA over the final years of his contract remain ongoing.
Darvish underwent surgery on his UCL in November that will cost him the entire 2026 season. He is owed a total of $43 million over the 2026-2028 seasons. If he decides to put the spikes on hold and the Padres can work out a deal with him and the MLBPA to ease the financial burden of the right-hander’s contract in the short term, that could help create some additional financial flexibility for San Diego once this offseason rolls around. The Padres are known to be interested in adding another starter and a right-handed bat to their first base/DH mix, and more budget flexibility could support these pursuits.
2. What’s next for Cleveland after Ramirez’s extension?
Seven-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer Jose Ramirez has never been shy about his desire to play his entire career in Cleveland, and after his latest extension with the club, it appears he is all but guaranteed to do so. Ramirez signed a seven-year contract that overrides the remaining three years of his current extension, keeping him in town through his age-39 season while also guaranteeing him an additional $106 million in new money. The deal comes with significant deferred cash and lowers the short-term price tag of Ramirez’s contract by approximately $24 million over the next three years. If that financial flexibility is used to improve the club in the short term, the Guardians could take the opportunity to add some much-needed right-handed help in the outfield. Harrison Bader, Austin Hays and Miguel Andujar are among the remaining free agents who would fit that bill.
3. Will Sugano find a role in the MLB?
NPB legend Tomoyuki Sugano first came to the MLB last year and pitched his age-36 season as a member of the Orioles. The righty posted a 4.64 ERA with a 5.36 FIP over 157 innings of work. He led the AL in home runs allowed with 33 and struck out just 15.7% of his opponents. Despite his difficult first season in the Majors, Sugano made it clear this weekend that he wants to continue pitching in the US rather than return to the NPB in Japan.
Despite last year’s shortcomings, Sugano still managed to make all 30 starts for Baltimore last year, and he walked just 5.3% of his opponents. If nothing else, he could be an innings-consuming fifth starter for a club with young and/or inexperienced rotation groups. There remains plenty of competition in the market, ranging from Chris Bassitt Unpleasant Luke Giolito Unpleasant Justin Verlanderbut Sugano should have a lighter price tag than many of its veteran counterparts on the market. Will he find a role?
#opener #Darvish #Guardians #Sugano