The San Diego Padres find themselves in a delicate situation as a team, but that does not imply that the Atlanta Braves shouldn’t capitalize on it.
As a protracted legal dispute over the ownership share in the Padres starts to develop, San Diego hasn’t been anywhere close to competing for the top free agents this winter.
Former Padres All-Star Jurickson Profar signed with the Braves last week and pointed to the ownership dispute as a reason he felt San Diego didn’t try to re-sign him on a pricier deal.
In the meantime, the Braves could still benefit from an additional starting pitcher, following the exit of two-time All-Star Max Fried to the New York Yankees. The Padres, possibly aiming to reduce expenses, possess a surplus of starting pitchers.
Padres star Dylan Cease has been a well-discussed figure in trade talks this winter, as he has only one year left on his contract. However, Harrison Smajovits of Atlanta Braves on Sports Illustrated recently proposed that the Braves might pursue Michael King from San Diego instead.
“Considering that Cease is the more prominent name of the two, boasting a significantly longer history as a starter, the Braves would probably need to surrender less to obtain a quality starter if they choose to pursue King,” Smajovits stated.
Cease is projected to earn $13.75 million in 2025. King might join at almost half the expense. If the Braves aim to remain beneath the luxury tax and possibly take another step after adding a starter, then the reduced salary would be significant.
King, 29, became a regular starter for the first time in 2024, and he was exceptional. He accumulated 201 strikeouts and achieved a 2.95 ERA over 173 2/3 innings pitched, ending up in seventh position in the National League Cy Young competition.
Anticipated to secure a $71 million extension when he becomes a free agent (according to Spotrac), King might serve as either a one-year rental for the Braves or a long-term member of the rotation if they agree to his conditions for remaining in Atlanta.
Leave a Reply