Michael King Declines $28 Million Option to Enter Free Agency

San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King declined his $28 million player option to enter free agency after anchoring the rotation in 2026. King posted a 3.21 ERA across a career-high 185 innings, finishing exceptionally strong with a 2.84 ERA over his final 15 starts. Despite receiving the fourth-least run support in MLB (3.68 runs per game), he logged 18 quality starts and is projected to command a five-year contract.