San Diego Padres’ Pitcher Michael King Has Opted to Become a Free Agent
The Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series last night and with that the baseball season has officially come to a close. Which means that now all the offseason moves can begin in earnest. And already we are surprised by the news coming out of southern California. San Diego Padres’ pitcher Michael King has opted to become a free agent. He has declined the final two years and $58 million remaining on his contract with San Diego. King had re-signed with the Padres on a three-year deal last season. Now he will receive a $5 million buyout and enter free agency.
King returned to San Diego this season on a three-year, $75 million deal that featured opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. He earned a $12 million signing bonus with a $5 million salary in 2026. He was a bright spot in the Padres’ pitching rotation which had many holes this season. So, his loss will be keenly felt. There are many questions regarding their pitching. There is a club option on Nick Pivetta’s contract, while Walker Buehler, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize and Lucas Giolito are free agents. Yu Darvish is still mulling retirement, while Joe Musgrove’s future role is uncertain. Musgrove has not played in over two years so his abilities will be in question.
King came to San Diego in 2024 as part of the blockbuster trade that sent outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Mets. He spent the first five years of his career primarily working as a relief pitcher. However, he was able to transition into a full-time starter with the Padres and quickly became a valuable part of their rotation. Therefore, the Padres will have a large hole to fill in his absence.
San Diego Padres’ Pitcher Michael King Has Opted to Become a Free Agent
King really showed his value during the playoffs. King made two starts, allowing just one run in 12 innings with 14 strikeouts. He then came out of the bullpen to earn the save in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Brewers, finishing two scoreless frames. But he was also important to the team in the regular season as well. He posted a 3.21 ERA across 32 starts to accrue a career-high 4.3 Baseball-Reference WAR.
His decision is somewhat surprising as he and his wife had expressed their happiness being in San Diego. As Sports Illustrated writer Noah Camras pointed out, “this could be his final opportunity to secure a long-term, nine-figure deal.” Nevertheless, the Padres will have their work cut out for them. They are in dire need of pitching and will have to be aggressive to fill those needs. It looks like general manager, A.J. Preller, is going to have to work his magic yet again.
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