Cease’s name has been in plenty of rumors this winter but this is the firmest indication of the winter that King is potentially available as well. The logic for the Friars considering a trade is the same for both pitchers, as each is going into his final season of arbitration control.

It was a tremendous 2024 campaign for San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King. The 29-year-old was tremendous in his first full season with the Friars, proving why he was such an essential piece of the blockbuster Juan Soto trade to the New York Yankees.

This offseason has been nothing short of a nightmare for San Diego Padres fans. The Friar Faithful, accustomed to the team’s aggressive pursuit of stars, now face an unsettling shift in strategy.