Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres' 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
When Michael King was traded to the Padres in 2024, he was the main piece in their return for superstar slugger Juan Soto. Up to that point, King had mostly been used out of the bullpen by the New York Yankees. He had produced phenomenal results in 2022 (2.29 ERA) and '23 (2.75 ERA). After coming over from New York, King anchored San Diego's rotation with a 2.95 ERA across a career-high 173 2/3 innings pitched. An injury-plagued 2025 campaign caused King to re-sign with the Padres heading into 2026.
He immediately proved his value, anchoring the rotation after Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove spent most of the season on the injured list. King posted a 3.21 ERA across a career-high 185 innings of work. He was even better as the season went on, with a 2.84 ERA in his final 15 starts and a 2.53 ERA across his last seven.
San Diego's ace found his biggest problem in something that wasn't even his fault. King had the fourth-least run support among all starting pitchers (3.68 runs per game). Of the three pitchers with less run support than King, only one of them had more wins (Cam Schlitter, 14-6). In 14 of King's 32 starts he surrendered one run or less. The right-hander was also ranked 11th in quality starts with 18.
King declined his $28 million player option earlier this week, making him a free agent. He'll be one of the most sought-after pitching free agents on the market. King is predicted to land a five-year, $118 million deal this offseason. San Diego expects to be a major player to re-sign their ace. New ownership has stated that they're all in. What that means will be tested by whether King remains with the Padres in 2027.
