The San Diego Padres find themselves in a precarious position this offseason. Two of their top pitchers, Michael King and Dylan Cease, entered free agency, and Cease has already departed for the Toronto Blue Jays. King, meanwhile, is expected to command a massive $75 million contract this winter, according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic. While the Padres could theoretically pursue him, he is likely to attract interest from several other teams.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently suggested that King may bypass San Diego and instead join the Detroit Tigers. Reuter noted that with Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize already projected in three rotation spots, adding an established veteran like King would allow younger pitchers such as Reese Olson, Troy Melton, and Keider Montero to compete for a single rotation spot rather than two.
Detroit has reportedly expressed strong interest in King, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. If King can rebound from an injury-plagued 2025 season, he has the potential to slot in as the No. 2 starter for the Tigers. Detroit struggled last season, finishing 22nd in the majors with only 814⅓ innings from its starting rotation. Bringing in a reliable arm like King, who just a year ago pitched 173⅔ innings and finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting, would address a major weakness for the team.
The addition of King would give the Tigers a durable, veteran presence at the top of the rotation while complementing their existing pitchers. If he can maintain his health, Detroit could establish a strong one-two punch at the front of their staff without overspending. A signing of this nature represents the kind of strategic move that could position the Tigers as legitimate World Series contenders. For San Diego, losing both Cease and potentially King leaves a significant void in the rotation, forcing the front office to consider other options to stabilize their pitching staff. King’s decision will likely have a major impact on both franchises’ fortunes as they prepare for the 2026 season.