Darvish to be placed on restricted list with 'personal matter involving his family'

SAN DIEGO -- Padres right-hander Yu Darvish will be placed on the restricted list, manager Mike Shildt announced Saturday afternoon. Shildt said that Darvish is dealing with “a personal matter involving his family” and did not offer further details, in deference to Darvish’s privacy.

There’s no timetable for Darvish’s potential return, Shildt said, adding only that his absence would be “indefinite.” Darvish hasn’t pitched for the Padres since May 29, as he has dealt with injuries to his groin and elbow.

“He’s dealing with a personal matter involving his family,” Shildt said. “Clearly we want to respect his privacy. He wants to make sure everybody knows he’s physically in a good spot. He’s still working on his craft. But he is going to step away for right now and deal with some things on a personal level.

“We’re going to love and support him. He’s part of the Padre family. But at the moment, he’s going to take a break from the team.”

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Players on the restricted list remain under contractual control of the big league club they play for. But they are no longer with the club, and they are no longer mandated to receive compensation. The reasons players can be placed on the restricted list are numerous and subject to MLB’s approval.

Darvish, 37, had posted a 3.20 ERA in 11 starts this season. He missed time in April with a neck issue, then landed on the IL in May with a left groin strain. He was recently nearing a return, before a bout of right elbow inflammation. Images revealed no structural damage, however, and Darvish recently resumed playing catch, Shildt said.

In a thin San Diego rotation, Darvish’s absence has already been felt. Joe Musgrove is also dealing with elbow inflammation and only recently resumed playing catch. His return timetable remains unclear. Meanwhile, Michael King surpassed his career high in innings in most recent outing, and Matt Waldron is on the verge of doing so as well.

The Padres were targeting rotation reinforcements via trade long before news of Darvish’s placement on the restricted list. This may exacerbate the need, though there’s been no clear indication of how lengthy Darvish’s absence might be.

“The restricted list is indefinite,” Shildt said. “We have no timeline on it. The only thing we want to do -- the primary thing, rather, that we want to do is just make sure Yu feels loved and supported by his Padre family.”