The San Diego Padres finalized their Opening Day roster this week with a move that could carry broader implications beyond the pitching staff.
Veteran starting pitcher Yu Darvish was placed on the restricted list after undergoing elbow surgery in November, a procedure that will keep him out for the entire 2026 season.
Darvish still has three years remaining on his six-year, $108 million contract, with $43 million in guaranteed money through 2028.
The 39-year-old is currently rehabbing his elbow, and although he hasn't hinted at an early retirement, Darvish acknowledged in January that discussions took place with the Padres regarding his future and a possible voiding of his contract.
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The restricted list designation changes how Darvish’s deal impacts the Padres in the short term and gives them a lot of room for pursuing a final free-agency move.
Players on that list do not count against the 40-man roster and are not required to be paid while they remain away from the team, creating financial flexibility as San Diego won't have to pay Darvish his $15 million salary for 2026.
According to The Athletic's Dennis Lin, the Padres have expressed recent interest in free-agent pitcher Lucas Giolito, who remains unsigned deep into the regular season, and they could now make a push to land him, taking advantage of Darvish's situation.
“(The Darvish move) should save the team significant money and perhaps create enough flexibility for it to pursue Lucas Giolito, the top remaining starter in free agency,” Lin wrote. “The Padres, who a league source said have expressed recent interest in Giolito, have for months anticipated some kind of financial resolution.”
Giolito, a former All-Star, posted a 3.41 ERA in 145 innings last year playing for the Boston Red Sox and is considered the best available free agent—and 30th overall—on the market, according to The Athletic's rankings.
San Diego already added depth during the offseason with the acquisitions of Griffin Canning, Walker Buehler and German Marquez, but with Darvish unavailable and the financial implications of this situation, the Padres could still pull off a final move.
