Cubs free agent target: Michael King

If this sounds familiar, it’s because I wrote the same article last year. In fact, exactly one year ago, Nov. 6, 2025.

At that time, King had just declined a mutual option for $15.5 million with the Padres for 2026. Here’s what I noted as some projections for what he might get at the time:

The staff of The Athletic says King could get a three-year, $75 million deal. Matthew Pouliot’s ranking has him somewhat higher: Three years, $84 million.

Again, this is just the sort of pitcher that Jed Hoyer seems to like — comparable to signing Matthew Boyd last offseason, and that worked out pretty well.

Would you sign King?

King eventually signed a three-year deal which would have been worth $75 million…