Padres just made their best offseason move by keeping Michael King in San Diego

If the Padres’ offseason had a “don’t overthink it” button, they finally slammed it.

Per Mark Feinsand, San Diego is finalizing a deal to bring Michael King back on a three-year, $75 million contract — and it’s hard to come up with a better use of resources for a team that’s built to win with just enough chaos to keep everyone awake.

Padres secure Michael King and turn their offseason in the right direction

Here’s the truth: when King arrived from the Yankees in the December 2023 Juan Soto blockbuster, he didn’t show up as a throw-in arm. He was a guy who was tired of being labeled a reliever and decided to steal a rotation spot for good. In 2024, as a starter — he became a full-on rotation anchor, posting a 2.95 ERA over 30 starts and finishing seventh in NL Cy Young voting. 

King's 2025 season was marred by injuries that cut down on the number of times he started (he ended up with 15) and left everyone wondering if the Padres could get another reliable pitcher who would give them similar results as a healthy King. Although he had an injured arm much of the time in 2025, King threw well enough to post a 3.55 ERA. In a season where pitchers around the league were breaking down left and right, that’s not something to shrug off — it’s a reminder of how high his floor is, even in a worst-case version of his year.

The uncertainty surrounding King's future didn't end when free agency arrived. He turned down the qualifying offer (which he should have) and rumors began circulating about King potentially returning to the Yankees, or filling a void in Boston's rotation, or possibly signing with the Baltimore Orioles. As is often the case, the rumor mill churned out its "smart teams want smart players" type of hype.

And yet, he’s staying. In San Diego. Where he’s already proven he can be the guy.

For the Padres, this is more than a signing — it’s stability. It’s keeping the top of the rotation with Nick Pivetta and a returning Joe Musgrove, from turning into a patchwork quilt. It’s sending a message to the clubhouse and the fanbase: the window is still open, and they’re not letting a foundational arm stroll out of it.