Dodgers Castoff Weighs Sudden Retirement After Joining Hated Rival

Sep 01, 2026 06:30 PM - 1 hour ago 1
World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v Houston Astros - Game Four

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 28: Yu Darvish #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks connected during lukewarm ups earlier crippled 4 of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros astatine Minute Maid Park connected October 28, 2017 successful Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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The Los Angeles Dodgers person plentifulness of starting-pitching extent heading into the last agelong of the 2026 season, moreover pinch Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound still uncertain.

Since Ohtani past sounded successful a game, the Dodgers person added two-time American League Cy Young Award victor Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers while besides getting left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Tyler Glasnow backmost from the injured list. Yoshinobu Yamamoto remains the rotation’s anchor, giving Los Angeles considerably much options than it had earlier successful the year.

Of course, this isn’t the first clip the Dodgers person pushed for a postseason berth pinch astounding pitching depth. And arsenic fans look guardant to different October, galore will beryllium willing to perceive that a erstwhile polarizing starter is considering a stunning profession decision.

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Yu Darvish, who joined the National League West division’s San Diego Padres respective years aft a very little and memorable 2017 stint pinch the Dodgers, is now weighing status moreover though he has $30 cardinal remaining connected his contract.

“San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish is considering retirement, according to Padres head Craig Stammen,” arsenic James H. Williams reported for USA Today.

Darvish’s imaginable status determination would people the extremity of 1 of the much accomplished pitching careers of his generation. And possibly nary infinitesimal was much polarizing than the last fewer weeks he spent pinch the Dodgers.

The 40-year-old spent 15 seasons successful the awesome leagues and owns a 115-93 profession record, 33.2 WAR and 2,075 strikeouts crossed 297 starts. He besides has 2 seasons remaining connected his six year, $108 cardinal Padres contract. But wounded setbacks person pushed him to measurement ending his profession alternatively than fighting his measurement backmost to the mound.

The Padres’ remaining financial committedness makes the anticipation of status peculiarly notable. Darvish would beryllium stepping distant from important guaranteed money if he yet decides that his playing profession has tally its course.

For Dodgers fans, Darvish remains tied to 1 of the astir memorable and achy chapters successful the franchise’s caller history.

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The Dodgers acquired Darvish from the Texas Rangers during the 2017 season, hoping the seasoned right-hander could thief push the nine complete the top. He went 4-3 pinch a 3.44 ERA successful 9 regular-season starts for Los Angeles and sounded efficaciously during the first 2 rounds of the postseason.

The World Series, however, became a different story.

Darvish grounded to flight the 2nd inning successful either of his 2 starts against the Houston Astros, including a Game 7 outing successful which he surrendered 5 runs successful little than 2 innings. The Dodgers yet mislaid the series, pinch Darvish facing immoderate pitch-tipping controversy. He past departed arsenic a free supplier amid ire from Dodgers fans for his mediocre performance.

“Darvish became a free supplier aft the World Series. He wanted to re-sign pinch the Dodgers,” the Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernandez reported successful 2018. “Darvish had concerns astir returning to Los Angeles, however, specifically really the city’s hatred of him could impact his family. He contemplated the downsides of sending his children to area schools.”

He yet signed pinch the Cubs, past joined the Padres, turning a erstwhile Dodgers pitcher into a salient personnel of 1 of Los Angeles’ section rivals.

Nearly a decade later, Darvish could now beryllium approaching the extremity of his career. His determination would adjacent the book connected a singular 15-year MLB tally while bringing renewed attraction to the little Dodgers section that remains 1 of the astir scrutinized stretches of his career.

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