Right-handed starter Michael King has declined the player option on his contract with the Padres to become a free agent, sources told MLB.com on Thursday. The club has not confirmed the news on King, who will now become one of the top arms on the market entering his age-32 season.
Coming off an outstanding 2026 campaign, King figures to command a longer-term deal than the two years remaining on his current contract. According to sources, King and the Padres remain interested in a reunion. The two sides have until Monday to negotiate exclusively before King becomes a full-fledged free agent and can negotiate with other teams.
“San Diego has been incredible for me, and it’s all the way across the country from home,” King said after San Diego’s postseason exit earlier this month. “I feel like I have a second home on the West Coast. It’s been awesome. And I hope to continue it.”
King was durable and productive in 2026, posting a 3.21 ERA across 32 starts to accrue a career-high 4.3 Baseball-Reference WAR. He also left a lasting mark during the Padres’ run to the National League Division Series.
King made two starts, allowing just one run in 12 innings with 14 strikeouts. He then came out of the bullpen to earn the save in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Brewers, finishing two scoreless frames.
A headlining piece in the trade that sent Juan Soto from San Diego to the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season, King has pitched well for the majority of his career. He owns a 3.23 career ERA, including a 3.15 mark in 78 games (77 starts) as a Padre.
King returned to San Diego this season on a three-year, $75 million deal that featured opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. He earned a $12 million signing bonus with a $5 million salary in 2026. A $5 million buyout will come into play now that he has opted out.
So, essentially, King turned down the two years and $53 million he could have made, likely in search of a longer-term deal. It’s fair to expect he’ll receive one. King seemingly ranks as either the second- or third-best starter on the market, alongside Freddy Peralta, behind Tarik Skubal.
Because King signed a qualifying offer last offseason, the Padres cannot extend him a qualifying offer again this year (which might help King’s free-agent value, as he wouldn’t be tied to any Draft pick compensation).
For the Padres, King’s potential departure leaves myriad holes in the rotation. The only guarantee to return in 2027 is Randy Vásquez. There is a club option on Nick Pivetta’s contract, while Walker Buehler, Robbie Ray and Casey Mize are free agents. Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning are likely to join them when the Padres decide on their mutual options next week. Yu Darvish is still mulling retirement, while Joe Musgrove’s future role is uncertain.
The Padres have until Monday at 2 p.m. PT to make those option decisions, while the same deadline applies for the team to extend qualifying offers to eligible free agents. Adrian Morejon is the likeliest Padre to receive that offer -- one-year, $23.15 million. If he declines the offer, the Padres would receive Draft pick compensation.