1 day Ago By Drew Arellano, Last Word On Sports
This offseason has been nothing short of a nightmare for San Diego Padres fans. The Friar Faithful, accustomed to the team’s aggressive pursuit of stars, now face an unsettling shift in strategy. With the future of the organization clouded by uncertainty surrounding the Seidler brothers, the Padres appear more inclined to trade key players or let them walk in free agency.
Fan-favorite Jurickson Profar has joined the Atlanta Braves , a reunion with Ha-Seong Kim feels unlikely, and ace Dylan Cease is reportedly on the trade block . Now, according to a Monday report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic , another name can be added to the list of potential departures: breakout starter Michael King . Padres Have Discussed Michael King In Trade Talks https://t.
co/1eFq5I7BCn pic.twitter.com/RtJneKzAmN — MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) January 27, 2025 Michael King Trade Still “In Play” For Padres, Per Ken Rosenthal Rosenthal’s latest piece delves into the free-agent market, but the final paragraphs hold a frustrating update for Padres fans.
“One reason the open market remains clogged is that teams continue to discuss trades,” Rosenthal writes. “The Seattle Mariners’ Luis Castillo and San Diego Padres’ Dylan Cease and Michael King, for example, are the starting pitchers who remain in play.” Rosenthal also highlighted King’s ongoing arbitration dispute, noting that an arbitration hearing “appears likely.
” If it happens, it would mark the Padres’ first arbitration hearing in a decade under general manager A.J. Preller.
A Michael King trade now seems like an unfortunate possibility. Padres and King Face Contract Stalemate King, the centerpiece of the Padres’ return from the Juan Soto trade with the New York Yankees, emerged as a breakout star in 2024. The former reliever delivered an impressive 2.
95 ERA (139 ERA+) with 201 strikeouts over 173 2⁄3 innings. He also became a crucial anchor in the Padres’ rotation . Alongside Cease, King formed one of the league’s most formidable one-two punches.
Under the leadership of late owner Peter Seidler, King might already have secured a long-term extension to stay in San Diego. However, with the organization facing murky ownership uncertainty, any such deal seems improbable this offseason. King remains under contract through 2025 but is poised to hit free agency after that.
Should the Padres Trade King or Cease? The Padres’ rotation already faces significant challenges heading into 2025. Joe Musgrove is expected to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and the team recently missed out on signing Roki Sasaki . Trading King, Cease, or both would only exacerbate their pitching woes unless the return includes a package of top-tier prospects.
For a team in desperate need of arms, trading away two of its best pitchers seems counterproductive. The Padres may ultimately have no choice but to keep both King and Cease, even if it means losing them to free agency after the season, to remain competitive in 2025. Still, with the trade market buzzing and the Padres’ financial situation in flux, it’s clear the team faces tough decisions.
Whether King remains in San Diego or becomes the latest high-profile departure, this offseason will likely continue testing the patience of the Friar Faithful. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission..
