Outside of making two trades with the Houston Astros for outfielder Kyle Tucker and reliever Ryan Pressly, the Chicago Cubs have been reasonably quiet this winter. Could president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer pull off another trade for Michael King of the San Diego Padres?
King was a primary starting pitcher for the first time as a big leaguer in 2024, and the results were excellent. The right-hander posted a 13-9 record with a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 201 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings. Despite his top-tier production, he’s been floated as a trade candidate in the offseason rumor mill.
What might it take for the Cubs to bring him to the Windy City? Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer put together the following hypothetical trade proposal:
- Cubs receive: starting pitcher Michael King
- Padres receive: starting pitcher Javier Assad and outfielder Kevin Alcántara
Rymer noted that while the Cubs got better by acquiring Tucker and Pressly, the rotation could still use a significant upgrade.
“As such, one’s mind is still hung up on a January 3 report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com in which he linked the Cubs to Jack Flaherty,” Rymer wrote. “This was before they signed (Colin) Rea, but there’s still space in Chicago’s rotation for a top-flight starter like Flaherty or, of course, King. He has the sweeper to fit right in as a Cubs hurler, and the team isn’t lacking for surplus trade chips it could use to get him.”
King and the Padres have avoided arbitration, agreeing on a $4 million contract for 2025. However, his deal also includes a $15 million mutual option for 2026 that comes with a $3.75 million buyout.
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