Michael King drops a telling Yu Darvish truth Padres fans will appreciate

Yu Darvish's future is uncertain, though his legacy in San Diego is solidified after a strong run with the Padres from 2021-25.

There remains no updates on Darvish's retirement saga — even A.J. Preller admitted to not knowing how it will play out — though it seems like he's likely thrown his last pitch for the franchise. No matter what, he definitely won't take the mound in 2026 after undergoing an elbow procedure last in 2025.

Still, the Japanese legend isn't revered only for his right arm. He's endeared himself to teammates at every one of his stops on his career journey, and the impact he's had on the entire Padres pitching staff doesn't go unnoticed by those in the locker room.

In fact, Michael King shared his fondness and respect for Darvish in an interview, even suggesting that the injured veteran may have made a few sacrifices to get King back in San Diego.

Michael King praises Yu Darvish for taking on role of leader and mentor in Padres' clubhouse

"I still think he's the coolest person I've ever met. He cared so much about me," King said about Darvish. "That type of leader that we will have throughout the clubhouse is great for our young pitchers. And you'd have to ask him about he helped Preller give me a couple extra dollars. Darvish is a guy I've looked up to since I [arrived in San Diego] and I can't wait to keep that relationship going."

King also credited Darvish for helping out Randy Vásquez, who emerged a valuable rotation option down the stretch last season. In truth, the 39-year-old's influence can be seen all around the roster, from Joe Musgrove's rehab process to Nick Pivetta's career year in 2025.

And that's the sort of presence the Friars would be missing if he does decide to step away from the game. Yes, the financial relief that would come from Darvish surrendering the guaranteed money on his contract could lead to a last-minute marquee addition for the roster, but it'd also deprive the Padres (and first-year manager Craig Stammen) of a respected clubhouse leader.

For those worried about the money, it's telling that King hinted at Darvish being responsible for his new contract. It's impossible to tell exactly what he meant by that statement — Darvish's entire $16 million salary is guaranteed for the 2026 season — but it seems clear that the elder statesman of the rotation made a concession or two with his paychecks to ensure the Padres could afford another go-round with their ace.

That's the kind of person and leader that Darvish is, and it's why the Padres would be wise to keep him around in some capacity, even if his days of throwing off an MLB mound are over.