The San Diego Padres don't plan on trying to change starting pitcher Yu Darvish in his first season with the team. He threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Thursday for the first time this spring and said he felt good. "Had very good control, all in all feeling really good," Darvish said through a team interpreter. The Japanese right-hander has a mid- to high-90s four-seam fastball, but he's at his best when he uses his cutter and slider to get ahead in counts. He finished with a 2.01 ERA and led...

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller not only earned the title of President of Baseball Operations on Tuesday, he also got his contract extended through the 2026 season. Preller has been with the club since August 2014, but his most recent off-season has brought significant pomp and excitement to the Padres' roster. After having landed Manny Machado in free agency ahead of the '19 year, Preller landed Blake Snell and Yu Darvish in separate trades (after having acquired Mike Clevinger) ...

The San Diego Padres are still working on reaching an agreement with Japanese star Tomoyuki Sugano, according to two sources. The deadline to sign Sugano to a deal is at 5 pm ET on Thursday. Even though the Padres traded for Blake Snell and Yu Darvish last week, they are still looking to add to their rotation. If Sugano doesn't agree with a major league team before the deadline, he won't be eligible to do so until next offseason. The Yomiuri Giants, his team in the Nippon Professional Baseball ...

The holidays must have been excellent in the Preller household since Padres GM, A.J. Preller is in quite the giving mood to his team's fan base. Over the last few days, Preller has traded for Blake Snell, signed KBO star Ha-Seong Kim, and now is trading for 2020 N.L. Cy Young runner up Yu Darvish. The Padres have one of the deeper farm systems in major league baseball, and Preller has used that to strengthen his already strong team. A Padres team reached the NLCS last season, and many already ...

The San Diego Padres have reached an agreement with the Chicago Cubs that would send them veteran right-hander Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini, Darvish's personal catcher, for right-hander Zach Davies, shortstop Reginald Preciado (Padres No. 11 prospect), outfielder Owen Caissie (No. 13), outfielder Ismael Mena (No. 15) and shortstop Yeison Santana (No. 16). It comes just a day after the Padres agreed to acquire left-hander Blake Snell from the Rays. Snell and Darvish will join a rotation...

Japanese right-handed pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano's Jan. 7 signing deadline is quickly approaching, and sources say that multiple teams remain in pursuit, including the Blue Jays, Padres, Giants, Mets and Red Sox. The Padres would be out if they acquire Chicago Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish after reportedly agreeing to a blockbuster trade to acquire Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Blake Snell on Sunday night. But if they cannot agree on a deal for Darvish, Sugano would be a nice consolation prize as ...

The San Diego Padres are on the verge of acquiring left-handed starter Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays, but they are also in active pursuit of Chicago Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish, according to sources. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that a deal could be done before Tuesday. The 34-year-old Japanese hurler had a sparkling 2.01 ERA and finished second in the National League Cy Young voting behind winner Trevor Bauer during the shortened 2020 season. The talks revolve around a 4-for-2 ...

The San Diego Padres have been in contact with starting pitcher Yu Darvish after losing out on Japanese right-hander Kohei Arihara this weekend after he signed with the Rangers. The Friars could also attempt to sign Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, who they've talked with as well. Darvish finished second in the National League Cy Young voting behind Trevor Bauer, but signals from team sources have been mixed on how far along the talks are with Darvish. The Padres are looking for another starter...

The San Diego Padres are one possible suitor for Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish, who finished second in the National League Cy Young voting in 2020 behind Trevor Bauer. The Padres have high-end prospect depth, and general manager A.J. Preller knows Darvish well from their time together with the Rangers. San Diego has become a contender after going 37-23 and advancing to the NL Division Series last year. Mike Clevinger (elbow) will miss all of the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John...

Chicago Cubs ace Yu Darvish's name is out there in trade talks this winter, but it might just be an example of a willingness for the Cubs to consider anything. The runner-up in the National League Cy Young voting, Darvish's chances of getting traded are "very low," according to one executive. The Japanese right-hander had an excellent finish to the 2019 season and carried it over into the shortened 2020 campaign, falling short to Reds right-hander Trevor Bauer for the NL's Cy Young. He was 8-3 ...