The San Diego Padres cannot afford to let Michael King walk in free agency. After declining his player option, the right-hander is preparing to test his value on the open market following another strong season. While that decision makes sense for King, the Padres must make every effort to bring him back.
King has become one of the most important players in San Diego since arriving in the Juan Soto trade. Over three seasons with the organization, he has established himself as one of the National League's top right-handed starters while becoming a fan favorite through his postseason performances.
The Padres have plenty of reasons to prioritize a reunion. More importantly, their current rotation outlook makes keeping King even more urgent.
King has delivered when the Padres needed him most
King's postseason resume in San Diego speaks for itself. He dominated the Atlanta Braves in the 2024 NL Wild Card Series, giving the Padres the kind of performance they needed in a high-pressure environment. Two years later, he delivered another outstanding outing against the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round before even closing out a game against the eventual World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.
Those performances have helped make King one of the most beloved players on the roster. He has consistently shown that he can handle the pressure of October baseball, something that cannot be overlooked when evaluating his value to the organization.
His regular-season production has been just as important. After spending five seasons with the New York Yankees, King has recorded an ERA below 3.45 in each of his three seasons with San Diego. In 2026, he finished 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and 159 strikeouts across 185 innings.
King did allow a career-high 148 hits, but his overall production remained strong. He also took another step toward cementing his reputation as a dependable postseason option. He posted a 0.64 ERA this October and owns a 1.86 career postseason ERA, a 0.76 WHIP, a 5.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 34 strikeouts.
Coming in at #1: Michael King saves the season!
With the Padres season on the line, King took ball on short rest and recorded a six out save to keep the hopes alive.
He gave everything he had when his team needed him most. pic.twitter.com/nIXjAZYT7x https://t.co/KDp6dYNFaX
— SleeperPadres (@SleeperPadres) October 27, 2026
That combination of consistency and October success is exactly what the Padres need to retain.
Padres rotation could be in trouble without King
San Diego's starting rotation has too many unanswered questions to willingly lose one of its most reliable arms.
Nick Pivetta is dealing with health concerns, but did come back strong at the end of the season. Joe Musgrove finally returned to the mound after missing time. Meanwhile, Robbie Ray, Walker Buehler, and Casey Mize are all entering free agency, potentially leaving the Padres with several holes to address.
Randy Vásquez could provide some stability, but the organization needs more proven options behind him. JP Sears is another possibility, although he still has plenty to prove before being considered dependable in the rotation.
Losing King would make an already complicated situation much worse. The Padres would have to replace a pitcher who has been one of their two most important starters over the past three seasons while also searching for multiple additional rotation pieces.
That is not an ideal position for a team hoping to remain competitive in the National League.
Article Continues BelowNew ownership must make King a priority
The Padres still have an opportunity to compete over the next several seasons, but keeping King would give them a much stronger foundation.
The new ownership group needs to recognize what he means to this organization. King is not just another starting pitcher looking for a lucrative contract. He has become a major part of the team's identity, delivered in some of its biggest games, and proven he can be trusted throughout a full season.
There will be competition for his services, and King has earned the right to explore his options. San Diego cannot assume he will return because of his connection to the organization.
If the Padres need to go above and beyond competing offers to keep him, that is what they should be willing to do.
San Diego has a chance to remain in the postseason conversation for years to come. Re-signing King would help protect that opportunity and give the rotation an established leader. The Padres need to make sure he remains in San Diego.