Yu Darvish frustrated with Padres management

The 2023 off season has see the Los Angeles Dodgers pull out all the stops, spending over $1 billion to sign the two most sought-after free agents. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have given the True Blue fans hope that they can finally break their one-and-done cycle and push deep into the post season.

With the arrival of these two Japanese superstars, the World Series finally seems within reach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Historically, the Dodgers give it their all and absolutely dominate the regular season, before discovering that they have left it all in the gym when October rolls around, typically being sent home with their tails between their legs in the first round.

It is perhaps not hyperbole to feel that this time, the Dodgers are piecing together the embryo of a dynasty.

A critic raises his voice

Much criticism around the league has been that Shohei Ohtani is massively overpriced. Clubs balked at the astronomical price tag and when you consider that he cannot pitch for the next season or possibly even two, his impact is predicted to be minimal over the short term.

This has been seen as the driving force behind many teams providing a lacklustre response to his free agency. In the days leading to his signing, several teams seen as big contenders for his services reportedly went cold on the idea.

When the Dodgers landed Ohtani, they followed the “in-for-a-penny-in-for-a-pound” school of thought and signed the top Japanese prospect Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The pitcher gives them the two-pronged attack that Ohtani alone will eventually fulfil.

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish has now added his voice to the criticism of these signings. When asked about his compatriots’ decision to come to Los Angeles, Darvish said that he was frustrated with the San Diego Padres’ lack of effort to sign either one or both of the top-touted players.

To be fair to the Padres, they were never really in the running as a serious landing spot for either Ohtani or Yamamoto, but that didn’t stop Darvish levelling criticism at San Diego president of operations A.J. Preller. The Padres spent a ton of money to field a competitive team in 2023, but still failing to qualify for the postseason.

This left them with their backs against the wall, needing to make a tough decision. Either double down and sign even bigger players, or make deep cuts to align their roster with Major League Baseball’s debt service rule. But for Darvish, it is a simple thing to understand: two of the best players on offer in free agency will now play for the Padres’ direct conference rivals.