The San Diego club’s great trust in Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish (37, San Diego, photo) has been proven once again.
U.S. local media reported on the 10th that Darvish had agreed to a six-year, $108 million (approximately 136 billion won) extension contract with San Diego. Darvish, born in 1986, will stand on the mound in San Diego until 2028, when he turns 42.
Darvish, who made his major league debut by joining Texas in 2012, signed a six-year, $126 million (approximately 158.6 billion won)안전놀이터 contract with the Chicago Cubs in 2018 after becoming a free agent (FA). In December 2020, he was traded to San Diego and worked as a starter for two years, and after this season, he was in the process of becoming a free agent again. However, he signed a large extended contract with San Diego, effectively keeping him in the San Diego uniform until his retirement.
As a result, Darvish added $108 million of the contract signed in 2018, excluding the annual salary of $18 million (approximately KRW 22.7 billion) this year, and $108 million signed again this time. It has recorded a staggering income of 16 million dollars (approximately 272 billion won).
Darvish has a career record of 95 wins and 75 losses with an ERA of 3.50. He once stagnated as if he had come down from his heyday, but after moving to San Diego, he was resurrected. Last year, he started in 30 games and played an active role as a practical ace with 16 wins and 8 losses and an average ERA of 3.10.
When the Japanese national team was concerned about the delay in joining the major leaguers ahead of the 5th World Baseball Classic (WBC) to be held in March, Darvish received permission from the San Diego club and participated in the joint training of the Japanese national team starting in Miyazaki, Japan on the 17th. He is the only foreign player to join.
After San Diego coach Bob Melvin said, “There is no need to worry about Darvish,” this large-scale contract that San Diego issued immediately proved Darvish’s position within the team and the club’s trust.