Yu Darvish, 40, may retire instead of returning, Padres GM says it's his call

Padres GM AJ Preller says he will respect Yu Darvish's decision as the 40-year-old, with 115 MLB wins, weighs a comeback against retirement.

11 Nov 2026, 10:471 min read

Yu Darvish in a San Diego Padres uniform standing on the mound during a Major League Baseball game. — Image: 조선일보

Yu Darvish may be closer to retirement than to a comeback. The 40-year-old Japanese pitcher, who has 115 MLB wins with the San Diego Padres, is at a crossroads.

AJ Preller, the Padres' general manager, spoke about Darvish's future at the MLB general managers' meetings in Las Vegas, according to a report published on November 11 (Korean time). Preller said Darvish is continuing to focus on his rehabilitation, and that the club will respect whatever he decides.

Here is why it matters. Darvish signed a six-year, $108 million extension in February 2023 that runs through 2028. Retiring would mean walking away from that money and from the chance to add to his win total. In May 2025, he became the first Japanese pitcher to reach 200 combined wins across Japan's NPB and MLB.

No decision has been announced yet. For now, the call belongs to Darvish himself.

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