Padres’ Michael King Expected to Test Free Agency, Drawing Interest from Yankees and Blue Jays

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King is widely expected to decline his $15 million mutual option and enter free agency this offseason, with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees anticipated to be among the top contenders to sign him.

King arrived in San Diego ahead of the 2024 season in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees and quickly established himself as a key member of the Padres’ rotation. In his first full season as a starter, he posted a 2.95 ERA and finished seventh in National League Cy Young voting. Despite being limited to 15 starts this year due to a nerve impingement near his shoulder and a knee injury, King has demonstrated significant growth since transitioning from a bullpen role, maintaining a 3.10 ERA over his two seasons with the Padres.

The Padres face a critical pitching shortage heading into next season, with Dylan Cease and Nestor Cortes likely to depart and the future of veteran Yu Darvish uncertain amid retirement considerations. Currently, their projected rotation includes only Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, and Darvish, leaving two significant openings. A strong starting rotation is vital for any postseason contention, making King’s potential departure particularly impactful. Spotrac estimates King’s market value at a four-year, $91 million contract. For more on the Padres, see Padres news on Sports Illustrated.

The Blue Jays and Yankees are both expected to aggressively pursue King to bolster their own rotations, but will likely face stiff competition and a substantial financial commitment. Padres officials have not commented on their plans regarding King, but are expected to explore all available options to address their pitching needs in the coming weeks.