Michael King’s Exit Signals Rotation Trouble for Padres as AL East Teams Circle
It’s looking more and more like Michael King’s days in San Diego are numbered - and possibly already in the rearview mirror.
According to recent reports, King’s free agency market has narrowed to the AL East, with the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox emerging as the final contenders for his services. For a New York native who’s spent most of his life on the East Coast, a return to familiar territory checks out. And after a breakout stretch with the Padres, King has become one of the most sought-after arms on the market this winter.
That’s a tough blow for San Diego, where fans had been hoping King would be part of the solution heading into 2026. In fact, a recent fan survey showed just how much support he had - 48% of voters picked King as their top free agent target, ahead of names like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen. That’s not just a nod to his recent performance, but a reflection of how badly the Padres need stability in their rotation.
And now? That rotation is looking dangerously thin.
Dylan Cease is off the board, having signed with Toronto. Yu Darvish is out for the year.
That leaves Nick Pivetta - who, by the way, is reportedly being shopped - as the most reliable name in the mix. Joe Musgrove is expected back, but he hasn’t thrown a big league pitch in over a year and a half.
Beyond that, the Padres are staring down a group that includes Randy Vasquez, JP Sears, and Kyle Hart - a collection of arms that, while serviceable, doesn’t exactly strike fear into the heart of the NL West.
And it could get worse before it gets better. Reports suggest San Diego is considering trading both Pivetta and Miller, which would further deplete a staff that’s already running on fumes.
This is where things get tricky for A.J. Preller and the Padres’ front office.
They’ve been known to swing big - chasing stars, making splashy deals - but this situation might call for a different approach. Rather than going all-in on one marquee name, San Diego may need to piece together a rotation through multiple mid-tier signings or under-the-radar trades.
It’s not as flashy, but it might be the only way to build enough depth to survive a 162-game grind.
Could a group of Pivetta, Musgrove, Vasquez, Sears, and Hart hold down the fort in 2026? Maybe, but that’s assuming Pivetta isn’t dealt - and even then, it’s a rotation that would be running on hope as much as talent. Without King, the margin for error just got a lot thinner.
Losing Michael King doesn’t just sting because of what he brought to the table - it hurts because of what’s left behind. The Padres are now facing a pivotal offseason with more questions than answers, and unless Preller pulls off something bold (and soon), San Diego’s pitching staff could be playing catch-up from the very start of the season.