Right-hander Michael King is staying in San Diego after agreeing to a new contract with the Padres on Thursday night.
King, 30, will remain on the West Coast on a three-year deal worth $75 million, noti.group’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus and player options in 2027 and 2028, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported.
King will be paid $5 million in 2026 and have a player option worth $28 million for 2027 and a $30 million option for 2028.
The 2027 option comes with a $5 million buyout.
Feinsand added that King also got a $12 million signing bonus.
In 2026, King will play his third season in San Diego after being traded by the Yankees during the winter of 2023 as part of the deal that briefly brought Juan Soto to The Bronx.
He had a strong 2024 season, striking out a career-best 201 batters with a 2.95 ERA after converting to a full-time starting role.
King was limited to 15 starts in 2025 due to two separate stints on the injured list.
He finished the year with a 3.44 ERA, a 5-3 record and 76 strikeouts.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the Yankees were open to a reunion with King.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke highly of King during the Winter Meetings.
“Stud, not surprising [what he did with the Padres],” Boone told reporters. “The thing about Kinger is he’s got obviously great stuff and a great arsenal. He’s really smart and has a real good understanding of that stuff. It’s allowed him to evolve as a pitcher, coupled with his confidence.”
“That’s a powerful thing when you got stuff, the ability to learn and understand what you’re doing, and then the confidence to go do it. So I’m not surprised he went to that level. Obviously had some injuries this past year that slowed him a little bit, but he’s really good when he’s out there.”
The Red Sox and Orioles were also said to be interested in King, as were the Mets, who held a video meeting with him this month.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
