Padres Sign Michael King to Urgent $75M Contract Deal

UPDATE: The San Diego Padres have officially signed right-hander Michael King to a three-year, $75 million contract, according to sources reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan earlier today. This significant deal allows King to opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons, signaling the Padres’ commitment to bolstering their pitching lineup.

Despite being limited to just 15 starts in the 2025 season due to a knee injury and a shoulder nerve issue, King showcased his potential with a 3.44 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 73.1 innings pitched. His performance, although hampered by injuries, still reflected the talent that earned him seventh place in the 2024 Cy Young Award voting, where he posted an impressive 2.95 ERA and 3.9 WAR over 173.2 innings.

King’s contract comes after he declined a qualifying offer of $22.025 million from the Padres by the November 18 deadline. The 30-year-old pitcher, who previously spent five seasons with the New York Yankees, has a career record of 31-29 and a 3.24 ERA with 559 strikeouts.

The Padres are banking on King’s ability to return to form and contribute significantly to their pitching rotation. Fans are eager to see how he can improve his four-seam fastball performance, which dramatically underperformed last season, allowing a slugging percentage increase from .402 to .814.

This deal marks a pivotal moment in the Padres’ offseason strategy as they aim to strengthen their roster ahead of the next season. Keep an eye on how King’s recovery progresses and how he fits into the Padres’ plans moving forward.

For more updates on this developing story, follow MLB.com and ESPN’s coverage.