The Washington Nationals have spent years leaving fans to wonder whether a real splash in free agency is ever coming. It has been a quiet run for the organization, and the club has not handed out more than $15 million to a free agent since the 2019-20 offseason. If that changes this winter, Michael King makes a lot of sense as the kind of move that would say something loud.
King stands near the top of this year’s pitching market. Outside of Tarik Skubal, there may not be a better free agent starter available, and King has spent the past three seasons in San Diego proving he can handle a front-of-the-rotation role. For a Nationals team that needs help alongside Cade Cavalli, that matters.
The playoff résumé is a big part of the appeal. In 29 career postseason innings, King owns a 1.86 ERA and a strikeout rate above 30%.
That is the sort of arm teams want when October arrives and the games tighten up. The idea is simple: if you want a pitcher who can rise to the moment, King has already shown he can do it.
There is also a personal connection that could matter. King and Nationals manager Blake Butera were teammates at Boston College for two seasons and remain friends.
When Washington played San Diego earlier this season, Butera said it felt strange to face him, adding that they wouldn’t be friends while he was on the mound. A reunion like that would be unusual, and maybe even rare at the MLB level.
Of course, this is not a small ask financially. King is expected to opt out of the final two years and $58 million on his current deal, which would put him in line for a contract north of $100 million.
Entering his age-32 season, he could land a four- or five-year deal in the $28-30 million AAV range. A four-year agreement would be the cleaner fit from Washington’s side, though the club should have the room to make it work if ownership chooses to push in.
There are reasons to look twice before paying that price. King posted a 3.21 ERA over 185 innings, but his 4.13 FIP and 4.34 xFIP paint a less flattering picture.
His career numbers tell a similar story: a 3.23 ERA against a 3.92 xERA, 3.67 FIP and 3.84 xFIP. His career low strikeout rate is another point worth noting.
Still, King keeps beating those indicators, year after year, and that is not easy to ignore. He also has a feel for changing gears that stands out.
In the regular season, his fastball sat in the 93-94 range, but in October he was regularly touching 97. That ability to add and subtract velocity gives him a different gear when the pressure rises.
The pitch mix is part of what makes him so appealing. His sinker has heavy movement, his sweeper moves away from hitters, and his changeup has long been one of his best weapons. He also brings a four-seamer with enough velocity to get past bats, plus an occasional slider.
For Washington, the fit is obvious on paper. A rotation headlined by Cavalli, King, Connelly Early and Andrew Alvarez would look strong enough to support a team with an offense that is already in good shape. That group would give the Nationals a playoff-caliber starting staff.
At some point, though, the bigger question turns back to ownership. A recent poll by Spencer Nusbaum showed 82.5% of fans saying the Lerners should sell the team. If the Nationals want to change that perception, spending is the clearest way to start.
King would be a smart place to invest if they are serious about upgrading. He is the best pitcher on the market who is not going to cost close to half a billion dollars, and Washington needs pitching badly enough that the fit makes too much sense to ignore.
Even if King ends up elsewhere, the Nationals need to re-enter the free-agent market with more force than they have shown in recent years. If not, the trade market has to become part of the plan. After this season’s step forward, it is time for the Nationals to push toward their first playoff appearance since 2019.
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