Pitcher Michael King agreed to a deal with the Padres that keeps him in San Diego for 2025 with an option for 2026. It was the first feel-good move—if we can call it a move—of a grueling offseason for Padres fans.
I wouldn’t stop at agreeing to contract terms to avoid arbitration, I would extend King. Adding King with long-term arms like Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove could give the Padres a top three in their rotation that would rival any team in the league (including the Dodgers) for years to come. The back end of the starting staff is unclear, but pitchers like Matt Waldron, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito should get the best out of each other as they fight for the two remaining spots.