There aren’t a huge number of tough calls on the option front this offseason, but there is nevertheless a significant pool of players who aren’t technically yet free agents, but will be soon. That is to say, over the next few days, options decisions – player, team, and mutual – will be rolling out, and the free agent pool will expand.
An unsurprising one drops first, with San Diego Padres righty Michael King ripping up the final two years and $50 million of his deal so that he can get an even bigger payday:
Padres star RHP Michael King declined his player option today and will be a free agent. Will be one of the most coveted players on market.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 29, 2026Michael King, 31, was coming off a shortened season last year and was attached to a Qualifying Offer, which increased the costs for an external team to sign him. Thus, it wasn’t a huge surprise when he ultimately returned to the Padres on a three-year, $75 million deal that allowed him to opt out after each of the first two years. It worked out very well for him, as he put together a 185-inning regular season with a 3.21 ERA, and then a nice postseason run, too. The peripherals were a little questionable – 21.0% K, 9.2% BB, nearly a league-average FIP – but he got a lot of ground balls, didn’t give up much hard contact, and was particularly good late in the year.
That is all to say, I think King is making the right call to hit free agency again, and I think he’ll do quite well. A four or five-year deal wouldn’t be a shock, nor would be something approaching nine figures.
The Cubs were heavily attached to King last offseason, and there’s little reason to believe they won’t pursue him again. Although he’s a year older, King showed he was no worse for the wear in 2026, and he’s also now unattached to draft pick compensation (undoubtedly a factor for the Cubs last year on a deal that gave King an early opt-out). Because his style is more contact-managing than overpowering stuff, you would be reasonable in hoping King was not *THE* starting pitcher addition this offseason for the Cubs, but instead perhaps one of many.
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