The San Diego Padres and right-handed starter Yu Darvish agreed to a six-year extension through the 2028 campaign.
The deal is worth $108 million, sources told AJ Cassavell and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Darvish, 36, was eligible to hit free agency after the 2023 campaign and was owed $18 million. This deal supersedes that one and will now keep the five-time All-Star in San Diego through his age-41 campaign. He will turn 42 in August of his final year on the deal.
While the average annual value of the deal is $18 million, the contract is front-loaded, Feinsand adds.
This is the third six-year contract Darvish has agreed to in his career. He originally landed a six-year, $60-million pact with the Texas Rangers as an international free agent back in 2012. He also signed a six-year, $126-million deal with the Chicago Cubs upon reaching free agency prior to the 2018 season.
Last year, Darvish enjoyed one of his most dominant campaigns. He authored a 3.10 ERA and 3.31 FIP over 194 2/3 innings while making 30 starts, earning downballot NL Cy Young consideration. Despite posting a career-worst strikeout rate, Darvish was stingy with walks, boasting the fourth-best K-BB rate among qualified starters in the NL behind only Carlos Rodon, Aaron Nola, and Corbin Burnes.
A veteran of 10 seasons over 11 years, missing the 2015 campaign due to Tommy John surgery, Darvish possesses a 3.50 ERA and 3.46 FIP over 242 games. He has finished runner-up for the Cy Young twice in his career - once in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign as a member of the Cubs and the other back in 2013 with the Rangers.
This is the latest move in a busy winter for the Friars, who have landed Xander Bogaerts, Nelson Cruz, Matt Carpenter, Seth Lugo, and Adam Engel in free agency.