Orioles Could Pursue NL West Ace as Rotation Concerns Carry Into the Winter

The Baltimore Orioles have another offseason to figure out their starting rotation, and Michael King out in San Diego is starting to look like a realistic name to watch.

Baltimore finished the 2026 season at 79-82 and missed the playoffs despite entering the year with high expectations. With Trevor Rogers now headed toward free agency, the Orioles have an immediate hole to address, and King could be an option if the front office is willing to spend on a proven starter.

King, who spent the past few seasons with the San Diego Padres, has already surfaced in discussions about Baltimore’s offseason plans. FanSided's Christopher Kline included the Orioles among his potential landing spots for the right-hander, pointing to Rogers’ potential departure as a major reason the fit makes sense.

That need became difficult to ignore over the course of a disappointing season. Baltimore has invested in its lineup, including the addition of Pete Alonso, but the rotation remains an area where the club needs a more dependable option to compete in the American League East.

King would bring a track record that Baltimore could build around. He made 32 starts for San Diego in 2026, finishing with a 12-10 record, a 3.21 ERA and 159 strikeouts across 185 innings. His postseason performance also strengthened his case, highlighted by seven scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.

Kline argued that King could be within reach financially, even if Baltimore is unlikely to pursue the most expensive arms available. He described the right-hander as a potential “second-tier ace,” placing him in a different price range from what Tarik Skubal will garner from the Dodgers.

There is another reason the Orioles’ interest will be worth watching: their payroll flexibility. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller estimated that Baltimore’s projected payroll could sit at least $30 million below its Opening Day payroll in each of the previous two seasons. Miller noted that the gap was conveniently roughly what King’s expected average annual value could be.

That does not mean Baltimore will pursue him, but the financial argument for making a significant addition is there. The Orioles have already shown a willingness to spend on their lineup, and another winter without addressing the rotation would leave a major question unanswered.

For now, King remains a potential target rather than a confirmed pursuit. Still, with Rogers entering free agency and Baltimore coming off another losing season, the right-hander represents the kind of investment that could help determine whether the Orioles are better positioned to contend in 2027.