Cubs Poised to Pursue Padres Ace Michael King in Free Agency: A 3.46 ERA Steal to Supercharge Wrigley’s Rotation?.vc
Chicago, October 29, 2025 – The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 was a tantalizing tease: 92 wins, an NLDS berth, and a young core flashing brilliance from Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 30-30 exploits to Cade Horton’s rookie mastery. But with Kyle Tucker’s $427M free-agent farewell looming and Justin Steele’s injury history casting shadows, Jed Hoyer has his eyes on a proven arm: San Diego Padres righty Michael King. The 30-year-old’s 2025 breakout—3.46 ERA, 201 Ks in 173.1 IP, and a 1.08 WHIP—makes him the perfect mid-rotation maestro, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Projected at 4 years, $76 million ($19M AAV), King’s strikeout surge (10.4 K/9) and groundball tilt (48%) fit Wrigley’s confines like a glove. As the Cubs hunt stability for a staff that ranked 12th in ERA (3.85), is King the low-risk, high-upside addition to propel them past Milwaukee in 2026? Or will the Mets and Astros snatch him first?
King’s 2025 Alchemy: From Reliever to Rotation Ruler
King’s transformation was wizardry. A 2015 34th-round pick by Arizona, he debuted as a reliever in 2019 before a 2024 trade to San Diego unlocked his starter DNA: 2.95 ERA, 201 Ks in 173.1 IP. In 2025, he refined it: 3.46 ERA (11th NL), 1.08 WHIP, and a career-high 10.4 K/9, fanning 28% of batters with a four-seamer that averaged 95.5 mph (top-20 percentile). His sweeper (35% whiff rate) and changeup (.220 xBA) neutralized lefties (.225 average against), while his 48% groundball rate tamed Petco’s confines. “Michael’s not a flash—he’s a furnace,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said post-NLDS. His durability (32 starts) and 3.5 WAR screamed mid-rotation mainstay.
For the Cubs, King’s the antidote to Steele’s oblique woes (missed 12 weeks) and the bullpen’s 4.12 ERA (22nd MLB). “We need innings with swing-and-miss—King’s that guy,” a Hoyer source told Morosi. On X, #KingToCubs trends: “3.46 ERA for $19M? Steal him before the Mets do!”
Why Chicago? A Perfect Payroll Puzzle Piece
The Cubs’ 2025 staff—Steele (3.73 ERA), Imanaga (3.46), Horton (2.89)—ranked 12th in ERA but 18th in innings (4.85 IP/start). King’s 5.2 IP average and 128 ERA+ would slot seamlessly as No. 3, easing Steele’s workload and mentoring Horton. His $19M AAV fits under the $210M tax, freeing cash for Tucker’s outfield void (Jazz Chisholm trade?) or bullpen fire (Seranthony Dominguez?). “King’s the bridge—proven, affordable,” FanGraphs’ Jay Jaffe noted. Per Spotrac, his market: 4 years, $76M, edging Robbie Ray’s $70M but under Burnes’ $210M.
Risk? A 2024 UCL scare (no TJ) and 1.1 HR/9 in 2025 could haunt Wrigley’s winds, but his 85th-percentile chase rate (32%) mitigates it. “Low-risk upside,” Morosi called it.
| Pitcher | 2025 ERA/FIP | K/9 | IP | Projected AAV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Steele | 3.73/3.88 | 9.2 | 160 | $10M arb |
| Michael King | 3.46/3.72 | 10.4 | 173.1 | $19M FA |
| Cade Horton | 2.89/3.12 | 10.8 | 140 | $0.74M rookie |
The Competition: Mets, Astros, and a bidding war?
King’s market is hot: Mets (Senga’s return, but depth needed), Astros (Verlander’s twilight), and Cubs as dark horses. San Diego’s $80M payroll leaves him unsigned, but his 2025 All-Star nod (first career) boosts value. “Chicago’s under-the-radar play,” an agent whispered. Hoyer’s history—Bellinger’s $80M, Imanaga’s $53M—screams yes.
Conclusion
Michael King’s 3.46 ERA isn’t just a stat—it’s the salve for Chicago’s staff scars. At $19M AAV, he’s the mid-rotation maestro to pair with Steele and Horton, turning 92 wins into 95+. Hoyer, strike now: King’s the low-risk ace Wrigley craves. Cubs fans, the rotation’s revolution starts here.
