The San Diego Padres are in the middle of one of their strongest seasons in years. They’re fighting to win the National League West for the first time since 2006. A big part of how their year ends will depend on the starting rotation. And for Dylan Cease and Michael King, it’s not just about helping the Padres make a playoff push. Their performances down the stretch could decide how much money they make in free agency this winter.
Both pitchers are set to hit the market at the end of the season. And while the Padres would love to keep one of them, maybe even both, the reality is they’ll be expensive to retain. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently looked at whether Cease or King could secure a $100 million payday in the offseason.
It won’t be easy. Cease hasn’t been his best this season, posting a 4.82 ERA with a 6-11 record over 27 starts. He’s still young, still talented, but he hasn’t had the dominant year that would make him a lock for a massive contract. King has dealt with injuries, which is another red flag for teams about to spend big money.
That said, starting pitchers are always in demand. When free agency opens, Cease and King will be part of a group that includes Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez, and Ranger Suarez. All of them have question marks, but all of them also have the kind of upside that can push the market higher. Reuter even notes that while Cease and King both come with flaws, their track records and age, neither has turned 31 yet, make them strong candidates to draw big offers.
For the Padres, the situation is tricky. If Cease closes the year with a strong run and King shows he’s healthy again, both could realistically reach the $100 million mark. That would make it tough for San Diego’s front office, led by A.J. Preller, to keep them in brown and gold. Losing one might be expected. Losing both would be a big blow.
In the end, it comes down to timing. If Cease finds his rhythm and King proves he’s durable, they could walk into free agency at just the right moment, with demand for pitching sky-high. Neither is a sure bet to land $100 million, but both have the potential to get there. And when teams line up this winter looking for arms, they’ll be in the mix for some of the biggest contracts on the table.
