The San Diego Padres took an enormous gamble Thursday, reportedly agreeing to a six-year, $108 million contract extension with beginning pitcher Yu Darvish.
Darvish had an enormous 2022 season, going 16-8 (most wins since his 2012 rookie season and a team-high) with a 3.10 ERA, career-best 0.95 WHIP and team-high 197 strikeouts throughout 194 2/3 innings pitched overlaying 30 begins, whereas ending eighth within the NL Cy Younger voting.
Darvish is already 36 years outdated although, and the brand new deal will take him by his age-42 marketing campaign.
The transfer accommodates a full no-trade clause and was maybe a danger price taking for a number of causes. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the construction of the contract “helps” the crew (which has the third-highest payroll in MLB) towards the posh tax.
Passan also noted that this would be the third six-year deal of the five-time All-Star’s profession after beforehand securing six-year contracts with the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs. Darvish began his profession with the Rangers in 2012, made three All-Star groups with the membership and was the 2013 NL Cy Younger Award runner-up, earlier than being despatched to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 2017 commerce deadline.
He signed with the Cubs in February 2018 however was traded to the Padres in December 2020 after ending as a Cy Younger Award runner-up once more.
With a 95-75 profession file and 1,788 strikeouts over his 10 seasons, Darvish has an outdoor shot of reaching each the 100-win and a couple of,000-strikeout milestones in 2023. Darvish turned the quickest participant in MLB historical past to succeed in 1,600 strikeouts last April, engaging in the feat in 1,302 1/3 innings pitched.
All which may be left for him to realize is profitable a World Sequence. With the Friars having probably the most stacked rosters coming into spring coaching, Darvish could get his shot in 2023.
