San Diego Padres and right-hander Yu Darvish have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2028, according to MLB.com journalists AJ Cassavela and Mark Feinsand.
The six-year, $108 million deal was reportedly struck after one of Darvish’s best seasons. The veterinarian is 36 years old and will turn 42 in the final year of the deal.
Prior to this extension, Darvish was scheduled to become a free agent after the upcoming season. With an average annual value of $18 million for its addition, the deal could help the Padres with their luxury tax issues. The team ranks third in baseball wages and backs Darvish for $3 million less than the annual average from his previous contract.
Darvish’s age is reportedly not a concern for the Padres as his stats show no signs of declining. His most recent campaign posted a 3.10 ERA in 194 2/3 innings, his second-highest in a season since joining MLB in 2012. He went 2-1 in four postseason starts during San Diego’s run to the National League championship series.
Five-time All-Star 95-75 in 10 major league seasons. Playing for the Padres, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers, Darvish recorded a 3.50 ERA with 1,788 strikeouts. He finished second to Cy Young in 2013 and 2020.
In March 2015, he underwent Tommy John surgery with the Rangers, missing the entire season and much of 2016. In the 2018 season with the Cubs, he was limited to 40 innings due to a triceps injury.
After the 2020 season, he was traded to San Diego and has made consistent appearances since then. He made all 12 of his starts during the shortened 2020 season and has appeared at least 30 times in the last three full seasons. Combined with a five-year, $100 million extension with Joe Musgrove last summer, the Padres will have two solid starting pitchers leading the rotation this season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
