Padres reach deal with RHP Michael King to avoid arbitration

The San Diego Padres and right-hander Michael King agreed to a one-year deal on Friday to avoid arbitration.

King reportedly will receive $7.75 million this season with a $15 million mutual option for 2026. There's a $3.75 million buyout that could raise to $4 million depending on King's number of starts this season.

King filed at $8.8 million earlier this month with the Padres countering at $7.325 million.

King, 29, stood out for the Padres last season after being acquired as part of the deal in which Juan Soto was traded to the New York Yankees. He went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 30 starts and one relief appearance.

King never previously started more than nine games in a season before blossoming into a co-ace along with right-hander Dylan Cease for a team that reached the postseason.

Overall, King is 26-26 with a 3.20 ERA in 146 appearances (49 starts) in five-plus seasons with the Yankees (2019-23) and Padres.

Settling with King continues general manager A.J. Preller's streak of never being involved in an arbitration hearing with a player during 10-plus years of running the Padres.

The last San Diego player to have an arbitration case heard was right-hander Andrew Cashner in 2014.

--Field Level Media