Michael King has declined his side of a mutual offer from the San Diego Padres and is set to become a free agent heading into 2026.
He is owed a $3.75 million buyout, rather than the $15 million he would have received if he had accepted the option. The Padres have until Thursday to make a qualifying offer of just over $22 million to keep King, or he will be looking for a new city to call home next year.
The 30-year-old from Rochester, New York, would make for a nice fit to replace left-hander Patrick Corbin as the fifth starter for the Rangers, who is unlikely to be with the club next season.