Michael King’s potential opt-out and Casey Mize’s elite command position San Diego’s rotation staples as premier targets in a looming, high-stakes market despite league-wide labor uncertainty.
At this point, nobody knows what the MLB offseason will look like.
There will be a new Collective Bargaining Agreement at some point, and there have been talks of a long strike which could potentially delay the start of the 2027 season, with some suggesting there might not be baseball at all next year.
Still, it's worth looking into the free agents in this class. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com listed the top 10 free agents this offseason, and two San Diego Padres starting pitchers made the list: Michael King and Casey Mize.
Here was Feinsand's full top-10 list:
- Tarik Skubal, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Michael King, SP, San Diego Padres
- Randy Arozarena, OF, Seattle Mariners
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B, New York Yankees
- Seiya Suzuki, OF, Chicago Cubs
- Brandon Lowe, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Clay Holmes, SP, Chicago Cubs
- Casey Mize, SP, San Diego Padres
- Nick Martinez, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
- Luis Arraez, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies
This list also has former Padres including Martinez and Arraez.
First, here's what Feinsand wrote about King, who signed a three-year, $75 million deal last offseason with options that could send him right back into free agency.
"King would earn $28 million in 2027 and $30 million in 2028 if he plays out the contract, but given his strong, healthy season (3.38 ERA in 26 starts), there’s a strong possibility that he opts out, taking the $5 million buyout with the goal of securing a longer-term deal on the open market. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2024, King has a 3.20 ERA in 72 games (71 starts)."
King made just 15 starts in 2025 due to injuries, but through 27 starts this season, he has an 8-9 record with a 3,32 ERA in 156 innings, just 17 away from his career-high.
Casey Mize was acquired in a deal with the Detroit Tigers right at this year's MLB trade deadline. However, Mize has made just four starts for San Diego, and he gave up eight runs in his Padres debut before allowed two runs and then tossing six shutout innings.
In his last start on August 22, Mize allowed four runs in 2.2 innings, but he left with an injured ankle. Still, Feinsand likes what he sees, and here's why he could be in demand this offseason.
"Mize’s elite command – he ranks in the 86th percentile in walk percentage -- makes up for his middle-of-the-road strikeout numbers (48th percentile in strikeout percentage), and unlike some of the other starters in this year’s free agent class, Mize won’t turn 30 until next May," Feinsand wrote.
Mize started on Friday's game, so that was good news since he suffered the injury.
At the end of the day, while questions linger about the 2027 season, the Padres have two pitchers who should be heavily in demand during free agency, and maybe the new ownership will decide to spend money.
