The San Diego Padres know Michael King has been dealt a lot of bad luck this season with injuries.
However, the team is still a business at the end of the day, and the trips to the injured list are making general manager A.J. Preller and the Padres more likely to buy out King at the end of the season.
King was put on the IL for the third time this season on Thursday. He’s scheduled to make $15 million next year for the Padres, and there is absolutely no justification for paying him that much given how much time he has missed.
Spotrac shows if the Padres do buy King out of his contract, they will pay him $3.75 million to walk into free agency. That is 25% of the $15 million his mutual option and a much more reasonable price to pay.
When he has pitched this year, King has been dominant for the Padres. In 11 starts, he’s recorded a 2.81 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 19 walks. It won’t be an easy decision to move on from King, but 57 2/3 innings from a starting pitcher isn’t enough to warrant paying him $15 million.
That’s not to say the Padres can’t bring him back. They most certainly will look to do so on a cheaper deal. Whether he wants to re-sign with San Diego is a different question.
Preller will likely try to bring him back for approximately $7-8 million per year for next season and beyond. It wouldn’t be surprising if King and his agent request an opt-out clause in his contract in hopes of him staying healthy next season.
King’s status will be one of the big storylines to watch for the Padres heading into the offseason.
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