Padres may need to brace for a Yu Darvish outcome no one wants to say

San Diego Padres fans have spent the last decade watching Yu Darvish do the same magic trick in different uniforms: walk to the mound like he’s carrying a suitcase full of pitches, then empty it one filthy option at a time. That’s why his comments on Dec. 15 — a month and a half removed from right elbow surgery — land like a gut punch. Not because they’re dramatic, but because they’re honest.

In an article by AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Darvish essentially admitted that the idea of him throwing another game is no longer floating around in his mind. He's just rehabbing. And so, if a 39 year old starter who has had elbow surgery and is discussing "if I get the urge to come back" and "if I feel like I can be standing on the mound," then it is easy to see a world where Darvish has already pitched his last major league game.

Yu Darvish hinting at uncertainty forces Padres to face reality

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: it’s realistic. It doesn’t mean it’s certain. It doesn’t mean he’s quitting tomorrow. But it means San Diego can’t treat 2026 as a simple “Darvish returns midseason” placeholder on a depth chart. Elbow rehab is brutal even when you’re 27. At 39, it’s not just about healing — it’s about whether your body wants to do the whole thing again: the ramp-up, the setbacks, the pain tolerance, the constant clock in your head.

Darvish made the unspoken part of his experience clear on what it felt like to push through: he didn't think he was providing much, he was "in a way, grinding through the season" wondering if that would be it. This is not a man who is planning a comeback tour. This is a seasoned player dealing with the end of something.

What should the Padres do now that they have to deal with this reality? The Padres should first, act as adults. They should appreciate what he has been; a stabilizing force, a teacher, a professional — and build a rotation that does not require a miracle. If Darvish returns, that will be a nice bonus. If he does not return, that will be no surprise.

And if that Wrigley Field playoff start really does end up being the last time Yu Darvish stands on a major league mound, then the task is simple: honor the legacy, plan for the future, and accept that even legends don’t always get a clean final chapter.