After being traded to the San Diego Padres as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, Padres veteran hurler Michael King has reportedly opted out of his contract.

In his first season with San Diego, King excelled in his first full season as a starter, posting a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts and a 13-9 record in 31 appearances. The 30-year-old pitcher missed a significant portion of this season due to a right shoulder injury in late May and left knee inflammation suffered only a game after returning.

After making $7.7 million in the 2025 season, King is projected to get a massive pay raise after declining his mutual option, with The Athletic's Tim Britton projecting the veteran to command a three-year contract worth roughly $75 million.

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