The Detroit Tigers are expected to have a big offseason. After a successful-ish 2025 season, the Tigers’ championship window is open. With Tarik Skubal’s future uncertain, the time is now for Detroit to go out and sign big-time free agents or make meaningful trades.
In terms of the Tigers’ biggest needs, another depth starter to pair with Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize is much-needed, and Detroit has also been linked to top infielder free agents like Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman. However, a recent prediction has the Tigers landing former Padres starter Michael King in free agency. Is he an arm Detroit should pursue?
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Detroit Predicted to Sign Michael King
Would this be a good signing for the Detroit Tigers? Starting pitcher Michael King has a lot of upside, but it’s unclear what his price tag will be at this point. After Dylan Cease signed a massive $210 million deal, which shakes up the market completely, making starters automatically worth more.
In a recent predictions piece by Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, Michael King is predicted to land with the Detroit Tigers. Here are his 2025 stats:
“Stats: 15 GS, 3.44 ERA (4.42 FIP), 1.20 WHIP, 76 K, 73.1 IP
WAR:Â 1.2″
Adding at least one more proven arm is certainly a top-wish list item for the Tigers this offseason.
Evan Petzhold of the Detroit Free Press reported a few days ago that the Tigers have expressed interest in Michael King as one of their frontline starters, if he can stay healthy.
GettySan Diego Padres starter Michael King.Â
The Tigers just did not get enough innings out of their starters in 2025, and it’s not that King would necessarily solve that issue, as he only recorded 4.87 innings/start in 2025, but he could provide stability and another quality option somewhere in the Detroit rotation.
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Michael King’s Career at a Glance
Before being transferred into a full-time starter by the San Diego Padres, King was a prominent member of the New York Yankees bullpen.
From 2022-2024, King had three straight seasons of a sub-3.00 ERA, including a 2.94 mark over 173 innings and 201 strikeouts in 2024.
It’s unclear if King’s contract would reach up to $100 million this free agency because of the injury concerns, but his track record of solid production when healthy should warrant at least a three-year deal worth up to at least $90 million.
Michael King was drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2016 and made his debut with the Yankees in 2019. 2020 was his first time getting real innings at the big-league level, and after struggling in that COVID-19 season, he’s become a really polished arm.
As MLB’s winter meetings commence in just a few days, it will be interesting to see if the Detroit Tigers make a real run at Michael King or what reports surface regarding the starting pitcher market, as more starters are expected to ink new deals.
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