Padres insider floats intriguing under-the-radar (but risky) extension candidate

The San Diego Padres have a ton of decisions to make this offseason. Several players will hit free agency as the Friars look to build off of a 93-69 season. But what about some in-house guys worth securing to help the organization's future?

There is one particular player the Padres may consider extending, but some risk will come with it. Just like any other player, there are a few aspects to dissect on whether they are worth the money or not.

Padres Rumors: Michael King could be offseason contract extension candidate

Michael King is riding the wave of his best MLB season to date. It was also his first year with the Padres, pitching to a 2.95 ERA in his inaugural campaign as a full-time starting pitcher. He struck out 201 batters, which was the fifth-most among National League arms. King will undoubtedly receive some Cy Young votes, which begs the question for the Padres: should they extend him?

AJ Cassavell, the Padres beat reporter for MLB.com, floated out the idea of San Diego extending King before he becomes a free agent in 2026.

"King thrived in his first season as a full-time starter and made his love of the organization clear," Cassavell said.

The 29-year-old right-hander not only had a great overall season, he was especially tough down the stretch. King registered a 1.57 ERA in September, allowing just four earned runs in his final four starts. He showed no signs of slowing down and arguably became San Diego's best pitcher this year.

He had a rough start against the Dodgers in the NLDS, allowing five runs in five innings. However, his outing in the Wild Card round was the Padres' best postseason effort; he struck out a dozen Braves with no walks in seven scoreless innings.

There's plenty of positives surrounding King. The one thing that may make an extension risky is that this was his first ever season as a full-time starter. It's not his fault necessarily, but it raises some red flags. Is his durability strong enough where he can come back in 2025 and replicate his 2024 numbers while staying healthy? It's a question worth mulling over. Pitchers get hurt all the time, especially ones who are not accustomed to being workhorses.

King threw 174 2/3 innings this year. His career high before that was 104 2/3 frames, which is a major leap. Is it concerning? Maybe not. He was at his best at the end of the season, but a pitcher nearing 30 years old who isn't familiar with a bulky inning total can convince the Padres not to pull the trigger on an extension.

At the very least, they have a talented returning starter for 2025 and can be patient in their approach with him.