Former Cubs fan-favorite undergoes surgery that may signal the end of his career

Game 3 of the National League Wild Card series saw a full-circle moment for the Chicago Cubs and Yu Darvish, with Darvish taking the mound for the Padres against the team that traded him after the 2020 season. The last time the Cubs were in an elimination game before that matchup against the Padres, Darvish was on the mound for the North Siders.

Darvish only lasted an inning against the Cubs last month, taking the loss while giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. As it turns out, that is going to be the last time Darvish takes the pitching mound in quite some time. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that Darvish has undergone successful elbow surgery and will miss the entire 2026 season.

Darvish turned 39 in August, and his latest contract with the Padres suddenly looks like a disaster. Darvish inked a six-year extension with the Padres before the 2023 season worth $108MM. It hasn't been the greatest return on investment for the Padres, considering Darvish has only made 55 starts over the last three seasons.

Yu Darvish's career may be nearing an end after latest injury update.

Father Time seemed to be catching up with Darvish last season, posting a 5.38 ERA in 72 innings pitched. With his fastball velocity trending in the wrong direction, along with his strikeout numbers, it's fair to wonder how effective Darvish will be once he does return. They may never admit publicly, but the Padres may be hoping Darvish retires, as a way to recoup some of the remaining money that is owed him. Darvish has a $18MM luxury-tax hit each season for the next three years.

Signing Darvish before the 2018 season, it was the last time the Cubs' front office spent at the top of the free-agent market for a starting pitcher. Darvish struggled in his first season and a half with the Cubs, and many have pointed to his contract as what created the shift in the team's payroll approach.

Interestingly enough, the Cubs are entering an offseason where they have a need in their starting rotation, and the move they've made so far--declining Shota Imanaga's three-year, $57MM club option and trading Andrew Kittredge--has the impression that Jed Hoyer and Co. are trying to create added financial space for offseason moves. Of course, that was the same thinking Cubs fans had last offseason when they traded Cody Bellinger, and the Cubs wound up pocketing the $30MM saved.