Many were taken aback by the San Diego Padres’ ability to sign Michael King to a three-year, $75 million contract. This may not be as good as it looks, though.
Chris Landers of Fansided claims that since King has the option to opt out after the 2026 season, he is likely to sever connections with the team and try free agency once more in search of a long-term contract, hopefully following a totally healthy season.
“King recently signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Padres, but don’t expect him to finish it in San Diego. After the first year of the contract, King has the option to opt out in order to reestablish his value after a season marred by injuries in 2025. King is one of baseball’s best starters when healthy, and if he continues to do so in the upcoming season, he will have every incentive to reenter the market at age 31 in an attempt to land the long-term contract that escaped him this time. The cash-strapped Padres can’t be swimming in those waters, and pitchers just make too much money now to give up another opportunity at free agency,” Rotman wrote.
Despite being plagued by ailments, King finished the previous season with a 5-3 record, an ERA of 3.44, 76 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.200 over 76 innings worked. The year before, he ended with a 13-9 record, a 2.95 ERA, 201 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.192 over 173 innings pitched in his totally healthy Cy Young candidate season.
In light of this, King would probably opt out in quest of a long-term contract with a total pay that contains at least seven zeroes, but ideally eight, if he could produce another year like that.
That is beyond the Padres’ means. To be honest, they have to hope he suffers another year of injuries, albeit not as many as in 2025. San Diego will need a new ace if he doesn’t opt out.
