Michael King’s expected opt-out puts pressure on A.J. Preller’s Padres rotation plan

We knew this was coming. Michael King declining his player option should have caught nobody in the Padres’ front office by surprise. This possibility belonged in the offseason plan long before it became a transaction. Now we get to see how much preparation went into it.

King declining his option puts an important piece of San Diego’s rotation on the open market. The Padres have an obvious reason to pursue a reunion. Also, they have a responsibility to keep building while that pursuit plays out. It's fair to say that we can want King back and still expect A.J. Preller to have more than one workable answer.

The Padres should already know how far they’ll go for Michael King

The Padres know King’s preparation, his relationship with their coaches and the value he brings to their pitching staff. They have enough information to decide what keeping him is worth. Ownership should be part of that decision as well. They should have a clear understanding of how a substantial pitching commitment fits into the rest of the roster.

Replacing him could get expensive in a hurry. We recently broke down Jim Bowden’s contract projections, which put King at four years and $118 million and Freddy Peralta at five years and $140 million. Those are just forecasts, but they illustrate the problem with assuming the next appealing starter will offer financial relief.

We should expect San Diego to aggressively pursue King with a firm spending limit grounded in what it takes to build the rest of the roster. If going beyond that number would leave other needs unaddressed, the Padres have a case for walking away. 

A.J. Preller needs alternatives ready while the Padres pursue King

King has every reason to hear what other teams will offer. He earned it after posting a 3.21 ERA over 185 innings in 2026. And the Padres have every reason to keep working while he does.

If King’s asking price exceeds the Padres’ limit, Preller should already know what replacing him would cost. Would pursuing Freddy Peralta require an even larger commitment? Would trading for a starter cost prospects San Diego needs for another deal?

And if a worthwhile alternative becomes available while King is still weighing offers, Preller shouldn’t hesitate to act. Now, King has already said he wants to stay in San Diego. But the easy trap is allowing a reunion to feel so natural that every other possibility stays theoretical.

Preller should have room to pursue King aggressively while improving the rotation around him. And if King leaves, the standard remains the same: put a credible rotation on the field.

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