Padres re-sign King to $75 million, 3-year deal that allows him to opt out after ’26 and ’27

Advertisement

Advertise with us

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Michael King is staying with the San Diego Padres.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/12/2025 (258 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Michael King is staying with the San Diego Padres.

The right-hander signed a $75 million, three-year contract that allows him to opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

As part of the agreement announced Friday, King gets a $12 million signing bonus in three $4 million installments, within 30 days of the deal’s approval by Major League Baseball, and on Jan. 15 in both 2027 and 2028.

FILE - San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King works against an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
FILE - San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King works against an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

He receives a $5 million salary next season and has a $28 million player option for 2027 with a $5 million buyout. If that is exercised, he could exercise a $30 million player option for 2028 with no buyout.

King also gets a hotel suite on road trips.

King, who turns 31 in May, went 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 15 starts for the Padres last season. He missed time on the injured list with a pinched nerve in his right shoulder and then later with left knee inflammation.

San Diego lost frontline starter Dylan Cease to Toronto in free agency this month, and Yu Darvish is likely to miss the entire 2026 season following elbow surgery. King, however, rejoins a rotation that also features Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, who is expected back from Tommy John surgery.

King rejected a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Padres last month. They acquired him from the Yankees in the December 2023 trade that sent Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to New York.

In two seasons as a member of San Diego’s rotation, King is 18-12 with a 3.10 ERA. He made 30 starts and one relief appearance in 2024, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA.

King was primarily a reliever with the Yankees. He is 31-29 with a 3.24 ERA and seven saves in 161 games (64 starts) over seven major league seasons with New York and San Diego.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Report Error Submit a Tip

Baseball

LOAD BASEBALL ARTICLES