With Major League Baseball’s free agents able to sign with new teams beginning Monday, the New York Mets have another opportunity to pursue a familiar rotation target.
Right-hander Michael King elected free agency Thursday after declining his player option with the San Diego Padres, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. His decision puts another established starter on the market as the Mets consider ways to strengthen their pitching staff.
Aug 25, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King (34) delivers during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The two sides have already explored a potential fit. Last offseason, during the Winter Meetings, the Mets held a video meeting with King, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. King ultimately returned to San Diego on a three-year, $75 million contract that included opt-outs following each of the first two seasons.
That agreement allowed King to test the market again after a healthy season. He received a $12 million signing bonus and a $5 million salary in 2026. By opting out, he will collect a $5 million buyout while giving up the remaining two years, $53 million left on his contract.
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King put together a productive 2026 campaign, posting a 3.21 ERA and a 1.178 WHIP with 159 strikeouts across a career-high 185 innings in 32 starts. King also accumulated a career-high 4.3 Baseball-Reference WAR this season. After injuries limited him to 15 starts in 2025, his ability to handle a full season’s workload strengthens his case for a longer commitment this winter. King opted out, likely in hopes of getting a longer-term deal.
For the Mets, that combination of experience and production would be appealing. Adding King could take pressure off younger starters such as Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton and Jonah Tong, while giving the organization more flexibility when assembling its rotation. As it stands, New York’s rotation heading into 2027 will be led by McLean, followed by the other three, as well as Sean Manaea, who is set to enter the last year of his own three-year, $75 million deal.
Rather than relying on every young pitcher to immediately handle a full major league workload, New York could allow performance and readiness to determine those opportunities. Additional depth would also provide protection if injuries arise during the season.
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Still, signing King would come with questions. He turns 32 next May, and one healthy season does not erase his injury history. In 2022, King needed to undergo surgery due to a right elbow fracture, and in ’25, he suffered left knee inflammation and a pinched nerve near his right shoulder. The Mets would have to weigh his recent production against the length and cost of a potential deal.
The front office’s interest in Michael King last winter does not guarantee another pursuit, but it gives the Mets a reason to revisit the conversation and circle him as a name to monitor. King has since become an ace for the Padres, delivering the healthy, productive season he needed in 2026. New York now has another chance to pursue and potentially land one of the most coveted starters in the league, coming off one of his best seasons to date.
