After three seasons with the San Diego Padres, right-handed starting pitcher Michael King has declined his 2027 player option, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. King is now a free agent. He has a five-day window in which he can sign only with San Diego. At 4:00 p.m. CDT on Nov. 2, he will be free to sign with any team.
Most don't view the Minnesota Twins as a fit for the right-hander. Still, if Tom Pohlad is serious about increasing payroll, he should give Jeremy Zoll the green light to pursue King, who posted a 3.21 ERA with 159 strikeouts over 185 innings this past season. Former MLB general manager and current The Athletic insider Jim Bowden projects King will sign a four-year, $118 million contract.
The Twins have starters Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Dean Kremer and Bailey Ober under team control through at least next season. Additionally, Zebby Matthews, Kendry Rojas and David Festa are still with the organization.
Twins should consider signing Michael King to bolster rotation depth
Still, Minnesota should target another starter this offseason, especially one at the level of King. As we learned this year, rotation depth is extremely important. López and Festa missed the entire year. Abel missed most of the season. Ryan missed a month late in the year with a glute injury and struggled significantly after the All-Star break. If the Twins sign King, it would prove to fans the organization is serious about winning.
The Miami Marlins selected King in the 12th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. They later traded him to the New York Yankees.
King made his MLB debut with New York in 2016. He mainly served as a reliever during his time with the Yankees (2019-23). After the Yankees traded him to the Padres in the 2023-24 offseason as part of the blockbuster Juan Soto deal, King became a full-time starter and thrived. Over three seasons (2024-16) with San Diego, King posted a 3.15 ERA with 436 strikeouts over 432 innings.
King's sinker and changeup accounted for 54% of his pitches this year. He threw a four-seamer and a sweeper roughly 20% of the time each. He also mixes in his mid-80s slider.
Will the Twins be a serious contender for King? Most likely not. But Zoll should at least reach out to the veteran and his agent. Minnesota might be better off spending big on a power bat and bullpen arms, but it can't hurt to add a top starter, too.
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