After starting pitcher Michael King declined the $15 million mutual option he would have had in 2026 with the San Diego Padres, the ace is trending towards looking for a new place to call home for the future.
This doesn't mean that the Padres are out of the mix for the 30-year-old, although he may be looking for a large raise for whoever would be willing to offer it.
Who could be the team looking for a solidified ace that is looking to get paid like one moving forward?
Passan: Astros seen as a fit for free agent SP Michael King
According to senior MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Houston Astros may be the team that needs and wants Michael King.
"Starting pitching, on the other hand, is a problem. Plenty of options exist for the Astros, but owner Jim Crane's reticence to offer long-term deals could take them out of the running for the highest-end pitchers. Targeting one with high-end talent but coming off an injury-pocked 2025 is the ideal way to get ceiling outside of that paradigm," Passan mentioned in his list of free agent moves.
Long-time ace for the Astros, Framber Valdez, may be moving on from the Astros after a strange final year in Houston before he hit free agency. With this being said, Houston's rotation is leaning towards Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Spencer Arrighetti.
Although King dealt with injuries throughout 2025, an issue the Astros also face, his 18-12 record, 3.10 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP over the past two seasons could make him an appealing option for Houston.
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