If this sounds familiar, it’s because I wrote the same article last year. In fact, exactly one year ago, Nov. 6, 2025.
At that time, King had just declined a mutual option for $15.5 million with the Padres for 2026. Here’s what I noted as some projections for what he might get at the time:
says King could get a three-year, $75 million deal. Matthew Pouliot’s ranking has him somewhat higher: Three years, $84 million.Again, this is just the sort of pitcher that Jed Hoyer seems
to like — comparable to signing Matthew Boyd last offseason, and that worked out pretty well.
Would you sign King?
King eventually signed a three-year deal which would have been worth $75 million had it gone to its full length. It was structured with a $12 million amount for 2026 and then two player options, for $28 million in 2027 ($5 million buyout) and $32 million for 2028. King opted out of those and is a free agent again.
He had a really good year in San Diego in 2026, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.178 WHIP and made 32 starts for the first time in his career — as I noted in last year’s article, King had been somewhat injury-prone earlier in his career, but he seems 100 percent healthy now. He posted 4.3 bWAR and, as you know, absolutely dominated the Cubs in Game 1 of this year’s Wild Card Series, throwing seven innings and allowing one hit, striking out eight.
MLB Trade Rumors projects King for a four-year, $92 million deal. All three of their writers say he’ll re-up with the Padres. The Athletic says three years, $78 million, which is a higher AAV ($26 million to $23 million from MLBTR).
King is 31, turning 32 in May. He’d certainly be worth either one of those deals. Which one would you make?
