It seems the bad blood between Yuli Gurriel and Yu Darvish is all gone now! The recent reports of the Padres landing Yuli Gurriel and his chance of playing alongside another Padres star, Darvish, are making the town talk. While it was speculated that Darvish might not be on the same page with the team, Padres skipper Mike Shildt confirmed that he was taken onboard before getting Gurriel. 

It’s better late than never. The untoward incident between Darvish and Gurriel in 2017 is too old to recall, and it was closed with an unconditional apology from Gurriel. However, with no official camaraderie between the two in all these years, the Padres’ move is stunning. The big question is: Why did the Padres offer a minor league deal to the 40-year-old Yuli Gurriel, and how is it going to impact their long-term planning, and will the fans be able to witness the two playing together at the major? 

The show must go on

It all started when Gurriel passed an insensitive racist comment to Darvish during game 3 of the 2017 World Series. Yuli Gurriel was playing for the Astros then, and Darvish was with the Dodgers. That incident was followed by a five-match suspension for Gurriel and his apology to all. Darvish accepted the apology and asked everyone to move on, and now in 2025, the next chapter between Darvish and Gurriel is all set to start where they are on the same team for the first time. 

Yuli Gurriel was picked for the minor league by the Padres, and it is unlikely that he will play alongside Darvish soon. However, will Darvish accept Gurriel’s inclusion in the team? Padres manager Mike Shildt clarified that Yu Darvish knew about the potential signing before it happened and had given his blessing to the move, speaking to the ‘grace and forgiveness’ needed to move forward. “If he signs. I don’t want you guys to think too much about it. I just want it to be like nothing happened before,” said Darvish when he was asked by the Padres GM A.J. Preller about getting Gurriel. 

All eyes on Gurriel and Darvish

The primary reason for the Padres to get Yuli Gurriel in the minor league is to enhance their offense, which still needs more prospects. The experience Gurriel is bringing will come in handy for the team; their recent training updates offered a glimpse into what he can do at this age, hitting a home run off San Diego starter Michael King. On the other hand, Darvish ended 2024 with a stunning 7-3 record, 3.31 ERA, and 78 SOs! Hence, this year the Padres are all looking to Darvish to offer the same reliability in the pitcher rotation. 

Probability is there to witness Yuli Gurriel playing at the major considering his utility at 1B. Currently, Luis Arraez is the first choice of the Padres at 1B, but he is also getting considered as a DH, which could open the door for Gurriel. If Arraez gets settled at 1B, then Gurriel might end up as DH. However, Gurriel will be in the minors from the starting leg of the regular season, and considering Gurriel played 75 games for Atlanta’s Triple-A team last year, it is just about time that he will be in the major. 

Nothing gets better for the Padres to get Darvish’s skills at the pitch and Gurriel’s slugging at the bases this year, and their on-field camaraderie will be something to watch out for. What do you think about the Padres’ inclusion of Gurriel? Share your thoughts with us below.