The San Diego Padres are reportedly open to exploring trade options for a variety of players, including batting champion Luis Arraez, pitchers Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez, and infielder Jake Cronenworth. Recent reports have also included right-handed pitcher Michael King as a potential trade candidate, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 29-year-old King has been mentioned as one of the starting pitchers who remains actively available in the trade market, which marks a significant shift since transitioning to a starting role on August 24, 2023.

Currently, King is scheduled for an arbitration hearing with the Padres, which would be the organization’s first such hearing since 2014. He has filed for a salary of $8.8 million for the 2025 season, while the Padres countered with an offer of $7.3 million. This arbitration situation could lead the Padres to prioritize controlling their expenditures, especially given that they are projected to carry a top-10 payroll in the league, sitting approximately $4.4 million over the $241 million luxury-tax threshold. Trading King could help the Padres not only manage their payroll but also potentially avoid penalties associated with exceeding the luxury tax.

In assessing King's trade value, it is noteworthy that he has become one of the more effective starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. His performance metrics indicate him ranking among the top ten starters since his move to the rotation. With impressive Statcast numbers—an above-average whiff and strikeout rate coupled with elite figures for exit velocity and hard-hit rates—his sinker and sweeper combination have proven to be particularly challenging for hitters. Baseball Trade Values assigns a surplus value of $27.7 million to King, factoring in a reasonable salary estimate for the 2025 season. Given the Padres' intentions, it is reasonable to consider that they would only move King if the deal helps in reducing their luxury-tax payroll significantly. A review of potential teams shows various trade candidates who might benefit from acquiring King.