Kansas City Royals Could Land All-Star Pitcher in MLB Free Agency
· Yahoo Sports
The Kansas City Royals have a rotation problem, and Michael King might be the solution, if he decides to become available.
King made 32 starts for the San Diego Padres this season and posted a 3.21 ERA over 185 innings, going 12-10 with 159 strikeouts and a 1.178 WHIP. He also threw 14 postseason innings with a 0.64 ERA. By every measure, he was one of the more reliable starters in baseball in 2026, and he handled a career-high workload without breaking down.
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Now comes the contract decision. King signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Padres before this season. He has a $28 million player option for 2027 and a $30 million player option for 2028, though the 2028 option is only available if he keeps the 2027 one.
If he opts out, he gets a $5 million buyout and hits the open market. After speaking with reporters following San Diego’s NLDS loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, King described the decision as something he still needs to evaluate, and said his comfort with the organization will play a major role, per Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
He and his family have built roots in the area and started a foundation there. He made clear he hopes to keep pitching for the Padres if the situation makes sense.
So free agency is not a given. But if he opts out, he would be one of the top arms available this winter, alongside names like Tarik Skubal.
Kansas City’s need is real. The Royals finished 69-93 and fifth in the AL Central, and their rotation was a big reason why. The staff posted one of the worst ERAs in baseball. Their atrocious bullpen did not help.
Cole Ragans, the Opening Day starter, made only eight starts before left elbow surgery and is not expected to be ready immediately in 2027. Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo are the established names in the rotation, and even that is a thin foundation to build around.
The Royals are going to need multiple starters this offseason. That is not speculation, that is the situation they are walking into.
Whether King is the answer depends first on whether he actually opts out, and second on whether Kansas City is willing to commit the money. A multi-year free-agent deal for a starter of King’s caliber would almost certainly exceed the $28 million option he already has on the table.
If King stays in San Diego, Kansas City moves on to other options. But if he tests the market, the Royals have both the need and the motivation to be in that conversation.