Height
6'3"
Weight
210 lbs
Age
30
College
Boston College
Draft
2016, Rd 12, #353
Experience
7 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsB
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 163 | 3.2414248 | 31-30 | 570 | 1.1932718 | 0.0 | 7 |
Current Contract
Length
3 years
Total Value
$75.0M
Guaranteed
$45.0M
AAV
$25.0M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
Michael King's three-year, $75 million deal with the Padres earns a D- CVI, representing a significant overpay for what projects as an above-average starter. While King showed promise during his transition from reliever to starter with the Yankees, paying $25M AAV puts him in the company of proven front-line starters — a tier he hasn't consistently reached. The Padres are betting heavily on King's 2024 breakout translating into sustained ace-level performance, but his limited track record as a starter makes this contract extremely risky. San Diego's aggressive spending reflects their urgency to maximize their competitive window with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, but overpaying for middle-rotation arms rarely leads to championship success. The starting pitcher market was admittedly thin this offseason, but King's deal suggests the Padres panicked rather than pursued more cost-effective alternatives through trade or their farm system. This contract could age poorly quickly if King reverts to his pre-2024 form, leaving San Diego with an albatross deal that hampers future roster flexibility.
Fan & Media Sentiment
The media and fan narrative around Michael King has turned surprisingly sour for a pitcher delivering solid production, with public sentiment earning a D+ grade despite his above-average performance on the mound. The pessimism stems from a perfect storm of factors: his hefty $25M AAV contract has set ace-level expectations that his middling spring performance hasn't met, while his troubling injury history continues to cast doubt over his durability. Control issues, particularly those late-inning walks, have amplified concerns about whether he can handle high-leverage situations consistently, and at seven years of experience, fans expected more polish from a veteran arm. The disconnect between his actual solid starter production and the negative sentiment reflects how contract value and injury concerns can overshadow on-field results — King is essentially being graded on a curve that his paycheck created. For the narrative to flip, he'll need to stay healthy for a full season while showing the command and consistency that justifies his franchise-level investment. Right now, King sits in that uncomfortable middle ground where he's performing well enough to avoid being labeled a bust but not well enough to silence the critics who question whether San Diego overpaid for damaged goods.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 4/8 | @ PIT | W 8-2 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
| Fri, 4/3 | @ BOS | L 2-5 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
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