The Chicago Cubs are still reeling from a frustrating end to their 2025 Major League Baseball campaign, where they fell to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.
Although the year brought plenty of positive moments overall, the team fell well short of its championship aspirations. As the front office dives into the winter period, speculation swirls around the level of boldness Chicago might pursue in bolstering its roster.
In a piece published on November 14 by MLB experts Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney at The Athletic, the Cubs’ leadership is reportedly keeping tabs on Michael King, the ex-San Diego Padres hurler now hitting the open market.
They view him as a pitcher with “big upside when healthy.”
King stands out as an intriguing fit for Chicago’s needs. He sat out roughly half of the 2025 schedule due to setbacks with his shoulder followed by his knee, but when active, he delivered a respectable 3.44 ERA alongside 76 strikeouts across 73.1 frames on the hill.
Now 30 years old, King demonstrated remarkable durability during his 2024 stint with the Padres, logging a superb 2.95 ERA and fanning 201 batters over 173.2 innings. That breakout performance has fueled widespread interest in him among teams this offseason, even with his injury-riddled follow-up year.
Projections from Spotrac suggest King could land a six-year pact worth $141 million in free agency. Such a deal would rank as the priciest ever for a Cubs pitcher, edging just behind the $155 million extension inked by Jon Lester back in 2015.
Yet, if King maintains his fitness and taps into his full capabilities, this investment might ultimately prove to be a bargain by the end of the term.
Whether or not Jed Hoyer and company will be able to add a top-tier arm remains to be seen. Chicago has struggled to land high level free agents in recent years.
Also, the Cubs will need to make a decision regarding the future of Kyle Tucker.
Expect to continue hearing a lot of rumors about Chicago as the offseason heats up. King might be an option for the Cubs to help improve their pitching staff.
