Padres predicted to lose Michael King due to $58 million opt out decision
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Padres predicted to lose Michael King due to $58 million opt out decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Diego Padres are going to be in the market for starting pitching help this upcoming offseason, and it's thanks in large part to Michael King.
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He signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Padres last offseason, but it contained opt-outs after the first and second seasons. After year one, the decision is going to be clear.
ESPN's Jeff Passan is predicting the Padres will lose King to free agency this offseason, as the veteran right-hander is likely to opt out of his contract, forgoing the two-year, $58 million contract he is currently signed to for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Michael King is predicted to opt out of $58M deal with Padres
"The 31-year-old King is the other candidate along with Taira to stand first in line behind Skubal, and it makes sense for him to forgo the final two years and $58 million on his deal -- particularly with the $5 million buyout he'd cash in," Passan writes. "Will he opt-out: Yes.
It would make a lot of sense for King to opt out of his current contract. A $58 million two-year deal is nothing to scoff at, but for King, he has a real chance to land something massive this offseason.
This season for the Padres, King has a 3.00 ERA with a 10-9 record and 4.1 bWAR. The 31-year-old has been great and is likely pitching well enough to get more than $58 million on the open market.
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While a $30 million per-year deal might be the goal, even if he signs a longer-term contract with a lower AAV, it would be worth it for the veteran right-hander.
He has a real chance to land a big contract this winter, especially since the free-agent pitching class isn't very strong after Tarik Skubal.
King might be the second-best starter available this offseason, and that could lead to quite the large raise in free agency from a two-year, $58 million deal.
Passan is predicting that King will opt out of his current contract and hit free agency with a good chance of landing a massive deal.
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