Why White Sox should target Padres' Michael King if he opts out

San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Why White Sox should target Padres' Michael King if he opts out

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Oct 11, 2026 4:36 PM ET

After the Chicago White Sox were eliminated from the postseason on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, the team can now focus on maximizing its roster this offseason.

The South Side had a remarkable turnaround in 2026 following its dreadful back-to-back 100-plus loss campaigns in 2024 and 2025.

The team succeeded in utilizing a unique bullpen-heavy approach to open games in the postseason. It became the first team in MLB to win four consecutive postseason games with a starting pitcher going four innings or less. But its lack of traditional starters is an indication that it needs to target a durable starter this offseason.

San Diego Padres free agent Michael King is an intriguing ace whom they should explore adding to their rotation if he opts out of his player option this offseason. While he's expressed interest in returning to the Padres, he is still expected to test free agency, making him an appealing arm to target.

Why Michael King is an appealing arm for the White Sox to target

King boasted a stellar 3.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while also dominating with 159 strikeouts in the regular season. As a top-of-the-rotation ace, he would help stabilize the White Sox's rotation as a right-handed starter.

The team desperately needs a reliable starter to anchor the rotation, and King would be a suitable fit for the White Sox. With 185 innings across 32 starts, he's proven to be a durable workhorse. He also possesses elite secondary stuff with a nasty sweeper and sharp changeup that produced a solid 27% whiff rate.

In addition, in the postseason this year, he recorded a remarkable 0.64 ERA across 14 innings. His success in the postseason was highlighted by seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in Game 1 of the NL wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs. He also came on in relief in Game 3 and produced two scoreless innings to secure a tight 4-3 victory.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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