The San Diego Padres appear ready to make another run at dethroning the Los Angeles Dodgers for a World Series berth this season. After falling just one win short of reaching the National League Championship Series last fall, they’ve come out strong with a 27-15 record heading into Friday, trailing the Dodgers by only one game in the NL West. The Padres have been fueled by an MVP-caliber performance from Fernando Tatis Jr., steady play from veteran Manny Machado in his 14th MLB season, and a strong sophomore campaign from Jackson Merrill. However, their most notable asset may be their pitching staff. The bullpen ranks among the league’s best in ERA and is tied for the MLB lead with 16 saves. The starting rotation has also been stellar, led by Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Nick Pivetta, and Dylan Cease.
The team faces tough choices ahead, as both King and Cease are nearing the end of their arbitration years and could command significant long-term contracts if not extended soon. While the Padres may choose to let one or both depart, New York Post insider Jon Heyman reports that San Diego is currently focused on retaining King.
“The Padres are hopeful of re-signing one of two star free-agent starters – and word is the one they’ll likely target is Michael King,” Heyman wrote. “King is a star now but he’ll likely cost less than Dylan Cease due to Cease’s career résumé. Cease has returned to form with a dominant slider.”
Though it may be surprising given current stats, King could be the more affordable option. King has posted a 2.32 ERA and 56 strikeouts over nine starts this season, while Cease has a 4.60 ERA with 58 strikeouts in the same span. Despite King’s strong recent performance, Cease’s consistency—making at least 32 starts in each of the last four seasons—and reputation as one of baseball’s top strikeout pitchers gives him greater long-term value. King, in contrast, only transitioned to a starting role last year and had never started more than 10 games in a season prior.
