Padres News: Yu Darvish Breaks Silence on Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto Signing With Dodgers
Heading into the 2024 season, Yu Darvish looks like the ace of the Padres going forward. The team isn't expected to retain Blake Snell, so Darvish will likely be the No. 1 for the season.
The front office has been in a bit of a flux this offseason, as they have attempted to shed salary. It has seen them lose out on multiple talented free agents, and it's a big change from what they have done in previous years.
Darvish broke his silence and gave his thoughts on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto signing. The right-hander wasn't too happy that the two biggest Japanese free agents on the market this season went to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
It sounds like Darvish was hoping that the Padres would make a run at one or both of the two free agents. San Diego didn't have the money to spend this offseason, and they couldn't make a real attempt at landing them.
It's unfortunate for Darvish that they now are with the Dodgers, but they are close enough that they can all still hang out. Despite being on different teams, the players remain close.
Darvish will give everything that he has to help beat the Dodgers this season, and the Padres need a bounceback year from him. He finished the 2023 season on the injured list, so the hope is that he can remain healthy next season.
San Diego will be counting on him heavily, especially with their young pitching staff in the mix. Darvish is the veteran leader of the team now, and his role may look a little different than it has over the last few seasons.
