Yuli Gurriel made an offensive gesture after the Astros first baseman homered off the Dodgers' Yu Darvish in the 2017 World Series. Now, they're teammates.

Allow me some poetry here.) The Padres were in strong need of an innings-eating pitcher who could slot behind tri-aces Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish and in front of several less-established pitchers.

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish warms up during spring training baseball practice at the team's training facility Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The San Diego Padres made a somewhat move Monday that garnered controversy over how pitcher Yu Darvish might have felt about it. That move, apparently,

When the San Diego Padres announced the signing of Yuli Gurriel from the Kansas City Royals, fans around the MLB world wondered how he would co-exist with Yu Darvish, the team’s star pitcher who he famously had beef with back in 2017.

Yuli Gurriel arrived in the Padres clubhouse Tuesday morning. His signing came with the endorsement of Yu Darvish. The first of at least three times A.J. Preller checked in with Darvish regarding Gurriel was December.

San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish stands in the outfield before a spring training baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey

Training, MLB is rolling out its ABS (automated ball-strikes system), and Yu Darvish of the Padres isn't a fan.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish is not expected to make his Cactus League debut until early March. Darvish has participated in a simulated game and in an intrasquad game. The 38-year-old is not dealing with any injuries and is instead taking his time,

His signing came with the endorsement of Yu Darvish. The first of at least three times A.J. Preller checked in with Darvish regarding Gurriel was in December. The Padres president of baseball operations wanted to make sure Darvish, arguably the player he respects the most in his career, did not have a problem with adding Gurriel.

Darvish won't appear in a Cactus League contest until early March, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

In order for the San Diego Padres to sign Yuli Gurriel, they needed permission from Yu Darvish. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller reportedly