San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish considering retirement

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish is contemplating retirement, as reported by the team's general manager, Craig Stammen. Darvish is currently recovering from ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery, which he underwent in late 2025. He previously had Tommy John surgery in 2015. His final appearance was during a wild-card playoff game against the Chicago Cubs in October 2025.

During that time, Darvish has been following the standard Tommy John rehabilitation process at various locations, including Petco Park, though the specifics remain undisclosed. Stammen stated that Darvish is currently on his own timeline and has not made a definitive decision about his future, whether it be returning to play, retiring, or taking on a different role within the organization.

The most recent indication of his progress was a bullpen session he conducted on August 26. Stammen expressed optimism about Darvish's throwing ability, but emphasized that the decision to retire or continue is ultimately Darvish's to make. With 15 years spent in the major leagues, Darvish boasts a 115-93 career record, a 33.2 WAR, and 2,075 strikeouts across 297 starts.

He has two years remaining on his contract, with salaries expected to be at least $15 million for each of those seasons.