Padres' Yu Darvish responds to retirement report 

“You may have seen an article, and although I am leaning towards voiding the contract, there’s still a lot that has to be talked over with the Padres so the finer details are yet to be decided. Also, I will not be announcing my retirement yet. Right now I am fully focused on my rehab for my elbow, and if I get to a point where I can throw again, I will start from scratch again to compete. If once I get to that point I feel I can’t do that, I will announce my retirement.”

Darvish’s agent, Joel Wolfe, added that Darvish, “Yu has not made a final decision yet. This is a complicated matter we are still working through.'' Darvish has been dealing with right elbow inflammation, which limited him to 15 starts (5-5 with a 5.38 ERA).

Yu Darvish has put together a Hall of Fame-type career, despite never winning a World Series

Despite never winning a World Series, Yu Darvish has proven to be one of the best pitchers in his generation, being a five-time All-Star, finishing in the top 10 for the Cy Young Award five times (highest placing second in 2020), and posting a 115-93 record with a career ERA of 3.65. 

Not only has Darvish shown to be a talented pitcher for an American audience, but he has also proven to be a trailblazer for young Japanese fans, like reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani. Darvish's signing with the Texas Rangers back in 2012 led to a ton of talent to come to Major League Baseball, with names such as Ohtani, Masahiro Tanaka (2014-20), Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki following in his footsteps. 

Whether Darvish retires or continues to add to his Hall of Fame resume, he can go out knowing he's inspired many fans.