🔥 HOT NEWS: A Padres star is suddenly projected for a stunning 2-year, $56M payday after the Dylan Cease ripple effect shakes the market ⚡.NL

The San Diego Padres walked into free agency with multiple stars heading to the open market. On Wednesday night, Dylan Cease bolted from San Diego and reportedly agreed to a massive $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Now, the Padres are at risk of losing their No. 2 pitcher, Michael King, in free agency, too.

King is expected to sign a much more affordable contract than Cease did, which could put him in the Padres’ price range.

Zach Mentz of Cleveland.com recently projected King would sign a solid two-year, $56 million deal in free agency this winter.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 09: Manager Mike Shildt #8 of the San Diego Padres takes the ball from pitcher Michael King #34 during a pitching chang… | Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

“King had an injury-riddled 2025 season, but has proven to be effective — even dominant at times — when healthy,” Mentz wrote. “He has a 3.24 career ERA in 161 games pitched, and could be in line for a shorter ‘prove-it’ contract to re-establish his market.”

King is a bit too late in his career to sign a monster deal like Cease. Instead, he could be forced to sign a one or two-year deal to prove that he can stay healthy and effective.

At this price, the Padres would have a real chance to sign him. After losing Cease, San Diego could get very desperate in free agency, which could lead to a deal with King.

But teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets are likely to make a run for him, too. The San Francisco Giants are also in desperate need of starting pitching.