One of the top starting pitchers on the market is San Diego Padres free agent Michael King, who will be making a sizable salary on his first attempt at free agency.
King recently turned down the Padres’ qualifying offer, allowing him to consider other alternatives. King thinks he can get a bigger deal in free agency, but the offer was for little more than $22 million for a year.
The 30-year-old right-hander just concluded a season in which he earned 0.8 fWAR over 73.1 innings with a 3.44 ERA in 15 games.
In addition to his curveball and cutter from earlier in his career, he also throws a fastball, slider, changeup, and sinker.
He pitched 173.2 innings and earned 3.9 fWAR in 2024. King combines his pitches well and has a firm grasp of them. He mostly keeps hitters guessing and off their timing rather than relying on high-effort fastballs.
Due to payroll restrictions and the sizable pitcher market, the Padres are anticipated to be priced out of King’s free agency.
A small pool of elite pitchers is being led by King and fellow Padres free agent Dylan Cease. Both of them have a good chance of landing a large deal.
The San Francisco Giants stand out as King’s ideal destination, according to MLB expert Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. They may ultimately offer him a three-year contract worth $69 million, averaging $23 million per season.
If he continues to pitch at a level worthy of the top of the rotation, he will be able to reenter the market and receive a contract that is comparable to his qualifying offer, but he also earns longer-term security.
If the Padres hope to return to the postseason, they will need to invest in their pitching staff this winter. A.J. Preller, president of baseball operations, has been adept at locating excellent pitchers despite their rotation being notably inferior.
They may explore the trade market or turn some of their gifted bullpen arms, such as Adrian Morejon or Mason Miller, into starters.
The front office probably won’t be banking on Michael King and Dylan Cease for the upcoming season, regardless of how they add arms.