Michael King trade rumors hover over Padres-Rockies start
Michael King is scheduled to face Colorado as reports say San Diego may consider moving the right-hander before the MLB trade deadline.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Michael King trade rumors are suddenly part of the pregame buzz at Petco Park, where the Padres right-hander is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies at 9:40 p.m. ET.
CBS Sports betting analyst Matt Severance wrote that King could be making his last start for San Diego if the Padres decide to sell before next Monday’s MLB trade deadline. The Padres enter the game 53-53, while Colorado is 42-65.
San Diego is listed as a -188 money-line favorite, with Colorado at +158. The run line has the Padres -1.5 at +116 and the Rockies +1.5 at -135, while the total is set at 8.5 runs, according to the odds cited by CBS Sports.
Could the Padres trade Michael King?
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has reported that the Padres are likely to keep closer Mason Miller but could move King and others, according to CBS Sports. King’s contract adds some deadline spice: he re-signed with San Diego this past offseason on a three-year, $75 million deal, but he can opt out after this season.
That opt-out could make him more attractive to contenders looking for a playoff-tested starter, while also giving San Diego a reason to cash in rather than risk losing control sooner than planned. King, 31, came to the Padres from the Yankees in the December 2023 Juan Soto trade package.
King brings a 6-7 record, 3.24 ERA and 1.17 WHIP into the Colorado matchup. CBS Sports noted he has been sharp in July, posting a 1.96 ERA across four starts, though San Diego is 1-3 in those games because of limited scoring behind him.
His run support has been especially thin. CBS Sports reported King’s 3.00 runs of support per nine innings is the lowest mark among qualified MLB starters this season.
King has not faced the Rockies this year, but he gave Colorado a rough night at Petco Park last season with the only complete-game shutout of his career. The SportsLine Projection Model forecast him for 5.4 innings, 5.4 strikeouts, 4.6 hits allowed and 1.9 earned runs Tuesday.
Why the Padres deadline call is tricky
San Diego has been one of baseball’s most aggressive clubs under general manager AJ Preller, with CBS Sports pointing to past prospect-heavy deals for players including Soto and Miller. The Padres’ farm system has taken hits from those moves, while the big-league team sits near the playoff bubble.
The club is 1.5 games out of the final National League wild-card spot, according to CBS Sports. Its next five games are all at home against the Rockies and Giants, giving the front office a short runway to decide whether to chase a berth or restock.
SportsLine gives San Diego a 22.6% chance to reach the postseason. DraftKings lists the Padres at +230 to make the playoffs, which CBS Sports said implies a 30.3% probability.
Rockies counter with Michael Lorenzen
Colorado is expected to sell before the deadline, according to CBS Sports, though catcher Hunter Goodman is reportedly off limits. Goodman has 31 home runs, three behind Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the MLB lead, and the Yankees are said to be interested.
The Rockies’ scheduled starter is Michael Lorenzen, who is 3-9 with a 6.53 ERA. CBS Sports reported opponents are batting .327 against the 34-year-old, and SportsLine projected him for 5.4 innings, 4.2 strikeouts, 5.7 hits allowed and 3.0 earned runs against San Diego.
Severance’s betting card for the game included San Diego not batting in the bottom of the ninth and an alternate under 10.5 runs, priced at +128 as a DraftKings same-game parlay in the CBS Sports story.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.