The San Diego Padres have reached a one-year agreement with pitcher Michael King, avoiding arbitration issues. King will receive a $3 million signing bonus, with a salary of $1 million, and a mutual option for 2026 valued at $15 million, which includes a hefty buyout. Although this mutual option theoretically extends the Padres' control over King, such options rarely get exercised by both parties, typically leading players to either seek free agency or teams to move on based on performance or injuries.
The Padres announced Friday that they've avoided arbitration with right-hander Michael King, coming to terms on a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2026 season.
While the arrangement nominally extends the window of control over King, mutual options are at best a technicality; they're almost never picked up by both sides.
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