Three teams in the American League East are actively pursuing the same high-profile free agent starting pitcher as the offseason heats up.

Former San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King has become a prime target on the open market.

According to reporting from Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles are among the clubs King is seriously evaluating.

King, now 30, began his big-league journey with the Yankees, where he primarily worked in relief roles before his inclusion in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to New York ahead of the 2024 season.

Across his major league tenure, the righty owns a 3.24 earned run average. In 2025, despite dealing with multiple injuries that limited his workload, he posted a 3.44 ERA.

Insights from MLB.com highlight the intense divisional competition for his services:

“The Orioles have incentive to get their hands on King, because he has excelled against them. He’s 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 14 career games against Baltimore, including two starts. He hasn’t had similar success against Boston, but the Red Sox may see him as a fit as their No. 2 starter behind Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet. The Red Sox have already added Sonny Gray in a trade with the Cardinals, but the Orioles and Yankees are looking to make a splash in the starting pitching market and apparently see King as an avenue to accomplishing that.”

King stands out with a powerful four-seam fastball that features significant movement, paired with a sharp, sweeping slider.

Provided he can maintain his health, he represents a strong addition to any rotation. Landing him would be particularly valuable for one of these AL East contenders, as it would simultaneously bolster their staff while denying a key arm to direct competitors.

It will be interesting to see who ends up winning the King sweepstakes when it’s all said and done.