Yu Darvish joined the San Diego Padres in a major trade deal from the Chicago Cubs involving seven players in total, both major league teams said Tuesday.
The 34-year-old right-hander and catcher Victor Caratini moved to San Diego, while five players including pitcher Zach Davies head in the opposite direction.
"I'm feeling sad," Darvish said in a recorded message on social media that detailed his side of what had been an ongoing drama. "I really love the Cubs."
In his third year with the Cubs, Darvish went 8-3 and led the NL in wins with a 2.01 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 12 starts. He became the first Japanese pitcher in the majors to lead either league in wins as he tied Cleveland Indians ace Shane Bieber for most victories.
Darvish finished second in voting for the NL Cy Young award following the 60-game regular season truncated from the usual 162 games due to the coronavirus pandemic. The honor is awarded annually to the most outstanding pitchers in each league.
Padres general manager AJ Preller had scouted Darvish in Japan for the Texas Rangers, who then won the bid to sign him in 2012. Preller said his personal connection with Darvish was a part of the equation and according to Darvish, they spoke on a video call for an hour.
"His face looked so happy, and he was so overjoyed to acquire me," Darvish said. "I was anxious about the whole thing, but after talking with him and going over old times with the Rangers, at last I thought, 'I'm going to do this.'"
Darvish joins 2018 American League Cy Young award winner Blake Snell at the Padres, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 this past season, after the left-hander also moved to San Diego from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
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