Every time the Los Angeles Dodgers win something, the ache is felt in San Diego. The Dodgers just won their third World Series in six years, in a time period where San Diego’s best recent memory is a 2022 NLCS appearance. And with a new report, not even a week old, of their recent ache reopens the wound of their 2025 failure once again.

Padres ace Yu Darvish recently announced he will miss the entire 2026 season after Dr. Keith Meister performed a major surgery last Wednesday to repair his flexor tendon. And after that, the Padres Organisation announced they expect a 12-to-15-month timeline for the 40-year-old star’s recovery.

This news immediately reopened the debate about the Padres’ 2025 playoff exit. And San Diego sports host Jim Russell posted the news with two sharp criticisms. While Russell felt that the offense of the Padres was very bad but he is still puzzled over the fact that the team chose to let Darvish, who is suffering from an elbow injury, be a part of the starting nine. Adding to it, he believes that, Darvish not retiring will hurt his team more.

Darvish was clearly a compromised player in the 2025 season, starting on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He missed the first three months of the season and posted a high 5.38 ERA with a 5-5 record and 4.82 FIP in his  72 innings and 15 starts he made after his return.

So, the $46 million remaining money from 2026 through 2028 in his six-year, $108 million extension in 2023 makes Darvish a very expensive player on the bench. That’s why another host, Jon Schaeffer, repeated the same feeling, tweeting, “Not having Darvish was expected, but not having the Darvish money freed up was unexpected (I figured he’d just retire).”

For a five-time All-Star who posted one of the most impressive pitching careers of his generation, with 115 wins and 2,075 strikeouts in his 13 seasons in MLB, this is a sharp fall from grace for Darvish.

But before concluding everything, we have to see the other side of the story.

Yu Darvish and Michael King’s free agency hurts the Padres

The San Diego Padres are now in dire straits. The 40-year-old pitcher is out with an injury. Adding to that, Michael King is also not at 100%.  King was one of the five players who were traded to the Padres for Juan Soto.

The criticism of Schildt does not ignore King’s health. King doesn’t look like he’s in his best form since returning from a nerve issue. He has a 5.74 ERA across 15 2/3 September innings in his last 5 starts of the season.

But yes, he was great in his first 10 starts of the season. He had a 2.59 ERA and 3.26 FIP. He also looked good in his relief appearances in the Wild Card Series against the Cubs. It did look like King was returning to his form when he struck out all three batters he faced. Many feel that Mike Schildt’s decision to start the do-or-die Game 3 in the Wild Card Series against the Cubs was not the smartest of decisions. Darvish was also struggling in that position. As the season came to a frustrating end for the Padres, the veteran manager chose to retire.

And now, with Yu Darvish sidelined, the Padres’ starting rotation is completely decimated. Dylan Cease, another 2025 starter, is now a free agent, along with Michael King, who declined his mutual option. That means three of their main starting pitchers are gone.

The Padres’ current rotation is dangerously thin, with only Nick Pivetta slotting in at the top and Randy Vásquez. The only good news is Joe Musgrove is set to return. He will be back after missing all of 2025 with his own Tommy John surgery. How do you think the Padres will perform in the 2026 season?