Michael King’s “3 Years / $75M” Deal: Here’s What It REALLY Is — and Why Padres Fans Are Side-Eyeing It

By @VisualTejeda – FriarPulse

Published December 18, 2025 — 8:21 PM (PST) — Carlsbad, California

Michael King – San Diego Padres

First things first: as of this post, this deal has been reported by multiple national outlets but has not been officially announced by the San Diego Padres yet (team press release / transaction wire). In MLB terms, it’s essentially “agreed to terms” pending the usual final steps.

Now let’s talk about the part that matters: the contract mechanics. Because the headline “3 years, $75 million” sounds like a big-time commitment… but the structure tells a very different story.

The Contract Breakdown (Simple + Accurate)

Reported structure:

Signing Bonus: $12 million
2026: $5 million salary
After 2026: Player opt-out
2027: $28 million player option (or a $5 million buyout if he opts out)
After 2027: Player opt-out
2028: $30 million player option

Translation:

If King opts out after 2026, he likely walks away with about $22M total (2026 cash + reported buyout structure), then hits free agency again.
If he stays through 2027, it’s roughly $45M total.
If he stays through 2028, that’s the full $75M.

So… Is It Really a “3-Year $75M” Deal?

Technically, yes.

Practically? It plays more like a one-year prove-it with a “choose-your-own-adventure” menu afterward — and Michael King controls almost every lever.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

If King is elite (frontline ace vibes), he probably opts out and cashes in again. The Padres get the performance… but don’t get to keep him.
If King is average, he can opt in and still make a ton of money. That’s not “team-friendly” — that’s “player-protected.”
If King is hurt or declines, he has every reason to opt in and take the money. The Padres are the ones holding the bag.

Why Padres Fans Are Nervous: The Nerve / Pinched Nerve Factor

This is where a lot of the debate is coming from. A nerve-related issue isn’t just “miss a few starts and come back.” For pitchers, nerve/impingement problems can mess with:

feel for breaking pitches
command (the first thing to go when something’s off)
consistency start-to-start

Even a small drop can turn a top starter into a “he’s fine, but…” arm — and that’s exactly where big money gets scary.

My FriarPulse Take: This Deal Is Built for King, Not San Diego

Let’s say the Padres are effectively paying around $22M-ish for a one-year run in 2026 (depending on the exact buyout mechanics). That’s basically “Qualifying Offer money” territory… except:

The Padres don’t get comp value if he leaves early.
The Padres only get a true “steal” if King opts in AND pitches like an ace — which is the least likely outcome because that’s when players usually opt out.

Bottom line: the Padres are banking on a bounce-back, and they’re doing it with a structure where King keeps the upside and the team absorbs the downside.

Final Word

If King is healthy and dealing, the Padres win games — and that matters. But if you’re looking at this like a front office contract, your instincts are valid:

If he’s great, he’s gone.
If he’s not, he stays.

That’s the bet.

Sources (for transparency)

Question for Padres fans: Would you rather have given King a straight one-year “prove it” deal… or is this the only way to keep him in San Diego at all?