He is reportedly considering retirement, which would void the final three years and the remaining $46 million on his contract. Darvish said he is leaning toward voiding the contract, but also noted that all the details still need to be worked out. For now, he’s focused on recovering from right elbow surgery, and when he can throw again, he’ll work to get to a point where he can compete. If Darvish doesn’t think he can do that, he’ll retire.
Since finishing second in the 2020 NL Cy Young voting, Darvish has suffered a litany of injuries. He made just 15 appearances in 2025, posting a 5.38 ERA and a 1.181 WHiP over his 72 innings, striking out 68 batters with 19 walks.
San Diego Padres may receive salary relief from an unexpected source
The timing of Darvish’s decision could make a significant difference for the Padres heading into the 2026 season. General manager AJ Preller has been tasked with building a championship-caliber team despite significant salary constraints.
Those limitations were evident in the Padres’ relatively quiet offseason. Although they were able to retain pitchers Michael King and Kyle Hart, KBO infielder Sung Mun Song was the only other free agent to sign a Major League contract to date. Meanwhile, the Padres lost pitchers Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez, leaving holes in the rotation and the back of the bullpen.
Even getting some of Darvish’s salary back could open up opportunities for the Padres. While it’s not likely they’ll be shopping at the top of the market in the near future, having these funds available could allow the Padres to fill the remaining gaps. The Padres still need a starting pitcher, a viable power hitter, a first baseman and bullpen depth. It’s a long list, and Darvish’s salary won’t be enough to fill all those holes, but it would be a good start to help the Padres’ budget.
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