A big reason why it would be wise for the Padres to trade Michael King

It was an injury-riddled 2025 season for Padres ace Michael King, as he spent two separate stints on the injured list. But fast forward to now, and Game 3 of the Wild Card could very well have been his last game in brown and yellow.

King, 30, has a mutual option in his contract for 2026, but it seems more likely that both parties will decline it, as the Padres would save money while King would earn more money in a new contract. If that were to happen, he would undoubtedly received a $22 million qualifying offer.

The case to move Michael King while the price is highest

The injuries to King during his tenure with the Padres could really hurt his value, which is why it’s hard to see him returning to San Diego this year.

Jon Heyman of The New York Post predicts the Padres would need to “fight off” five other teams in order to keep King around. The New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees are all potential suitors. 

Four of the five are much bigger markets than San Diego, meaning they would be willing to meet King’s lofty asking price.

Amid all the rumors surrounding his uncertainty, King acknowledged that his future could be elsewhere, and he is thankful for his time with the Padres.

“These guys have been incredible the last couple of years,” King said. “AJ Preller knows how to put together a team. We had everybody going for one goal, all pulling for each other. It was really fun to be a part of these last two years.”

With Dylan Cease almost certainly leaving in free agency and Michael King’s future being in limbo, A.J. Preller is going to have a lot of difficult decisions to make regarding the starting rotation.

There have been reports percolating about Mason Miller moving out of the bullpen and into the starting five, but it is too early to determine the likelihood of that happening. Mark DeRosa of MLB.com reported that this could be a move that becomes a reality.

“There’s a lot of talk about Mason Miller becoming a starter, transitioning to starting pitching like Clay Holmes did this year, which kind of blows my mind,” said DeRosa.

As we move into the winter meetings, we will have more clarity on what’s next for the Padres’ pitching staff. But right now, this could all be smoke. It will definitely be an eventful offseason for Preller and his team.