Padres' King declines player option, set to become free agent

Michael King. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Padres' Michael King declines player option, set to become free agent

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Oct 29, 2026 10:53 AM ET

With the conclusion of the 2026 MLB season, it is time to begin looking ahead to what the 2027 season will bring.

One of the things to begin keeping an eye on is which players decline their player options. Several players can decide to decline those options and test the waters of free agency. Some of those decisions have already begun to be made, and what was expected to be one of the most highly coveted free-agent pitchers will be on the market.

Michael King is set to become a free agent

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, right-hander Michael King has declined his player option and will enter free agency. King, 31, has spent the previous three seasons with the San Diego Padres and has done excellent work.

He's made 77 starts, pitching to a 3.15 ERA with 436 strikeouts across 432 innings. As good as the regular season stats were, King was even better in his postseason appearances for San Diego.

He made four starts and six appearances overall, pitching to a 2.00 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 27 innings. He was as consistent as any pitcher in the league and will now hit free agency with plenty of good baseball in front of him.

Padres star RHP Michael King declined his player option today and will be a free agent. Will be one of the most coveted players on market.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 29, 2026

What makes Michael King such a tough AB for hitters?

Mark DeRosa dives in on the deception King creates and how his pitch arsenal plays off of each other.#MLBCentral pic.twitter.com/rRpRCCLiNS
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 29, 2026

What kind of money will Michael King command?

King was set to make $32 million in 2027, so it's likely that he believes he will be able to get more than that in free agency.

At 31 years old and with a career 3.23 ERA, he very well may be right, and his deal could go north of the $32 million he was slated to get. A long-term deal is highly unlikely, so it feels that somewhere around $35-37 million annually will be where a deal for King lands.

Where could Michael King land?

It is very likely that King will have a robust market, so what are some potential landing spots?

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets can never be counted out of the starting pitcher sweepstakes. The Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves are teams that need more pitching and have firsthand been dominated by King in the postseason. It will certainly be intriguing to see which teams make a real push at the right-hander and see where he lands for 2027 and beyond.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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