The San Diego Padres and right-hander Michael King agreed to a one-year deal on Friday to avoid arbitration.
King reportedly will receive $7.75 million this season with a $15 million mutual option for 2026. There’s a $3.75 million buyout that could raise to $4 million depending on King’s number of starts this season.
King filed at $8.8 million earlier this month with the Padres countering at $7.325 million.
King, 29, stood out for the Padres last season after being acquired as part of the deal in which Juan Soto was traded to the New York Yankees. He went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 30 starts and one relief appearance.
King never previously started more than nine games in a season before blossoming into a co-ace along with right-hander Dylan Cease for a team that reached the postseason.
Overall, King is 26-26 with a 3.20 ERA in 146 appearances (49 starts) in five-plus seasons with the Yankees (2019-23) and Padres.
Settling with King continues general manager A.J. Preller’s streak of never being involved in an arbitration hearing with a player during 10-plus years of running the Padres.
The last San Diego player to have an arbitration case heard was right-hander Andrew Cashner in 2014.
–Field Level Media
The New York Yankees agreed to a minor league deal with left-hander Tyler Matzek, MassLive and the New York Post reported Monday. The 34-year-old veteran will add some bullpen depth…
CC Sabathia, who pitched the last 11 seasons of his 19-year Major League career in New York, will be wearing a Yankees cap in his Hall of Fame plaque. The…
The Milwaukee Brewers on Monday unveiled “Bob Uecker” uniform patches that the team will wear throughout the upcoming season to honor their late longtime broadcaster. Uecker died Jan. 16 at…
Caps revealed for Hall of Fame Class of 2025 plaques
Brewers unveil Bob Uecker uniform patches for season
Reports: Dodgers retain utility man Enrique Hernandez
Blue Jays hire Kevin Kiermaier as special assistant