Michael King is headed to the open market.
The veteran righty has declined his $28 million player option for 2027 and will become a free agent, according to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman. The Padres will owe the 31-year-old hurler a $5 million buyout. King’s deal also had a player option for 2028.
King spent the past three seasons with the Friars after arriving as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees. Primarily a reliever in the Bronx, the Padres converted King into a starter with great success. The Rochester, NY native made 73 starts across his three seasons.
In 2026, King was 12-10 with a 3.21 earned run average and WHIP of 1.178 in 32 starts. He struck out 159 batters and walked 70 over a career-high 185.0 innings pitched.
King now joins a free-agent starters class that includes Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Trevor Rogers, Sonny Gray, Kevin Gausman and incoming Japanese righty Kaima Taira.
With the Milwaukee Brewers winning the World Series on Wednesday night, free agency officially opens on Thursday. Teams can offer contracts as soon as 5pm ET on Nov. 2.