The San Diego Padres have reportedly been looking to trade starting pitcher Michael King this offseason. Now that opening day is right around the corner, it seems unlikely that King will be dealt in the near future. But there’s still a chance the Padres trade King if they fall out of postseason contention. The righty has a mutual option at the end of the season, so he could be treated as an expiring contract in a trade like this. Spotrac projects him to sign a deal worth $71 million over four years if he ends up in free agency next winter.

But FanSided’s Jacob Mountz recently predicted the Padres would eventually trade King to the Atlanta Braves this season. “Earlier this year, reports had surfaced that the Braves checked in on Padres’ starters Michael King and Dylan Cease. Of the two, King is cheaper for at least this season with $4 million on the books for 2025,” Mountz wrote. “A $15 million mutual option for 2026 is more than the $13.75 million Cease is slated to earn this season in his walk year. While both Cease and King would make great additions, I think the Braves will opt for King.

“Cease will be more expensive especially since King’s option can be declined. And while Cease has more upside, King has had better results in recent years. Making a trade for King even more likely would be the Padres’ insane asking price for Cease, which has been more of a cease and desist to all potential trade partners (apologies for the Cease pun). The Braves have shallow depth at best and likely won’t want to drain their farm system on a rental.”

The Braves have better pitching than most give them credit for. Although they lost both Charlie Morton and Max Fried this offseason, they’re set to return Spencer Strider to the bump in the near future. Top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver has also emerged as a big league-caliber arm this spring.

If Atlanta suffers some pitching injuries this season like it did last season, this trade would make a lot more sense. But if the Braves stay healthy, all they’ll need to do is wait for Strider to return, and they’ll be in good shape with the pitching staff.