Manager Mike Shildt announced Monday that King will start the Padres' March 27 season opener versus Atlanta, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
In a surprising decision, King is getting the ball instead of Dylan Cease, but the two are essentially co-aces for the Padres. King broke out in 2024 in his first full campaign in the big leagues as a starting pitcher, collecting a 2.95 ERA and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 innings during the regular season.
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Padres' Michael King: Throws two frames in spring debut
Rotowire
King tossed two scoreless and hitless innings in Wednesday's Cactus League contest against Colorado, allowing two walks while striking out three batters.
King didn't have great control in the outing -- only 17 of his 35 pitches were strikes -- but he didn't allow any hits and got six whiffs on the 11 swings against him. The right-hander is coming off a breakout 2024 campaign (his first with the Padres and as a full-time starter) during which he posted a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 regular-season innings. King and Dylan Cease are expected to work as San Diego's top hurlers in 2025.
Padres' Michael King: Avoids arbitration with San Diego
Rotowire
The Padres and King avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract with a $15 million mutual option for 2026, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The buyout on the option is $3.75 million, with the possibility of it reaching $8 million if he hits all his incentives. The structure of the deal provides the Padres with some payroll wiggle room, which could lessen the need to trade either King or Dylan Cease. The right-handed King collected a 2.95 ERA and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 regular-season innings with the Padres in 2024.
