Padres Extend Michael King for 3 Years, $75 Million

San Diego Padres righthander Michael King agreed to a three-year contract extension with the team on Thursday, securing his place in the starting rotation through at least the 2026 season. The deal, announced by the club on Friday, is worth $75 million if King exercises his player options in 2027 and 2028.

The agreement includes a $12 million signing bonus, a $5 million salary for 2026 and a $5 million buyout if King opts out after that year. He rejected the Padres' $22.025 million qualifying offer last month before finalizing the extension. At 30 years old and turning 31 in May, King provides stability to a rotation that has faced significant challenges. The Padres lost ace Dylan Cease to free agency with the Toronto Blue Jays this month, while veteran Yu Darvish is expected to miss all of 2026 following elbow surgery.

King's return bolsters a pitching staff that now projects to include Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, the latter recovering from Tommy John surgery and anticipated to rejoin the team in 2026. During a press conference Friday at Petco Park, King expressed his commitment to the organization. "We have some unfinished business," he told reporters. "I want to be a part...