Padres down 3 starters – lose Darvish to surgery, Cease, King to free agency

Yu Darvish File photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego Right-hander Yu Darvish will miss the season with the Padres after surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow Darvish also got an internal brace in the surgery performed last week the Padres stated Tuesday I will be working hard on my rehab to be able to throw a ball comfortably again Darvish wrote in Japanese on social media Darvish had Tommy John surgery in March and returned to a major league mound on May The five-time All-Star went - with a ERA and a WHIP in starts for the Padres last season after missing the first three months due to elbow inflammation Darvish started the decisive Challenge of San Diego s wild card series against the Chicago Cubs and took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits He failed to record an out in the second inning Darvish has completed three seasons of the million six-year contract he agreed to in February wkth the Padres who acquired him before the season Darvish led the AL in strikeouts in and led the NL in victories in His injury is a blow to a Padres rotation that was already in flux after San Diego made the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons but failed to advance Right-hander Dylan Cease is a free agent and right-hander Michael King became a free agent Monday after declining his option for The Padres remaining proven starters are Nick Pivetta Randy Vasquez and Joe Musgrove who is scheduled to return next year from Tommy John surgery San Diego also acquired JP Sears in the deadline deal that brought vaunted reliever Mason Miller a starter earlier in his career Darvish will have plenty to keep him occupied during his year away from the mound His oldest son Shoei has committed to play baseball at UC San Diego after he graduates from high school next year