Despite the assertions that the Boston Red Sox would turn their attention to bolstering their offense after their early starting pitching additions, connections to more pitchers have persisted.
The latest among them was former New York Yankees and San Diego Padres starter, Michael King. On December 14, reports surfaced about the Red Sox's interest in King alongside the division rival Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Initial reports stated that the three American League East squads were the finalists in his market and that he neared a decision, but other reporters followed up to say a decision wasn't as close as it seemed (subscription required).
Five days later, King signed a three-year, $75 million deal to return to the Padres, with player options on the second and third years (first reported by MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand). The deal is shorter and less expensive than many people expected, since King is one of the better starting pitchers on the market this winter, but the veteran is prone to injury and has only pitched more than 105 innings once in his seven-year big league career.
Many Red Sox fans haven't been too upset that they didn't land King. Sure, his new contract came in at a lower price than expected, but he's not reliable enough to be considered the No. 2 starter that Boston has hoped would follow Garrett Crochet in its rotation. He also didn't land with a division rival — if he posts a full, healthy season, at least it won't be in the AL East.
Padres reuniting with Michael King has a few silver linings for the Red Sox
Earlier this offseason, King declined a $22.025 million qualifying offer from San Diego, and any team that signed him would've had to forfeit a 2026 MLB Draft pick. The Red Sox have done so much building on the trade market recently that that probably wasn't a risk Craig Breslow was willing to take, especially since King can opt out of his deal next year.
Boston also would've had to do a lot of roster maneuvering to fit King into its plans. The Red Sox already acquired Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo to sharpen up their starting rotation, and they would've had to make another trade to move a starter to another team to add King into the mix — they already have Cochet, Gray, Oviedo, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Kyle Harrison, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle and more battling for the last two rotation spots.
King, who grew up in Rhode Island and who would've "loved" to play in Boston would've been a complicated fit with the team, but he would've made the rotation better with a lot of shuffling. Instead of dedicating more payroll to another pitcher, the Red Sox can focus on their offense comfortably knowing that the potential No. 2 didn't go to a division rival.