The San Diego Padres secured their most significant offseason move on Thursday by reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $75 million extension with starting pitcher Michael King.
While King wasn’t the first prominent starting pitcher to land a deal this winter—the Toronto Blue Jays previously inked Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million pact—the key distinction is that King had rejected a qualifying offer. This meant any rival team signing the 30-year-old would have surrendered draft pick compensation.
Like King, several of the premier remaining free-agent starters carry qualifying offers, such as Philadelphia Phillies standout Ranger Suárez. According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Friday, the market for free-agent pitching is expected to unfold slowly, with Suárez unlikely to sign imminently.
“Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Tatsuya Imai, and Zac Gallen headline the top available starting pitchers in free agency. Could King’s agreement spark momentum for more starter signings?” Feinsand noted. “Valdez, Suárez, and Gallen all turned down qualifying offers, subjecting interested clubs to draft pick losses and additional penalties.
“The qualifying offer likely influenced King’s choice to stay in San Diego, particularly considering his contract terms. With trade demands skyrocketing and free-agent pitching costs at historic highs, the overall starter market may linger for several more weeks.”
Spotrac projects Suárez for a substantial six-year, $161 million deal, yet the attached qualifying offer could deter teams from meeting his full asking price. Given the widespread need for reliable rotation arms, there’s little urgency for the Phillies’ All-Star to commit early. Suárez is poised to wait deeper into the offseason, capitalizing on growing desperation from contenders.