SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 23: John King #47 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning at Oracle Park on September 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
Ezra Shaw
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JUPITER
The Miami Marlins are signing left-handed pitcher John King to a one-year deal, a source confirmed to the Miami Herald on Wednesday, in a move that continues to bolster the club’s bullpen.
The deal, first reported by ESPN, is for $1.5 million and is the Marlins’ fourth major-league free agent signing along with reliever Pete Fairbanks, starting pitcher Chris Paddack and utility player Christopher Morel.
King, 31, had a career 3.80 ERA over 253 1/3 innings spanning 214 games. He spent the past two-and-a-half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals after starting his career with the Texas Rangers. He was non-tendered by the Cardinals in November.
But King’s 4.66 ERA, .316 batting average against and 1.63 walks and hits allowed per inning pitched are the highest of his five full MLB seasons. He generated groundballs on 60% of balls put in play against him, ranking in the 98th percentile of MLB last season according to Statcast.
He throws a sinker that averages 93 mph, while using a changeup against right-handed batters and a slider against lefties.
King will become the fourth left-handed reliever on the Marlins’ 40-man roster once the deal is official, along with Cade Gibson, Andrew Nardi and Josh Simpson. Gibson proved reliable for Miami last season, pitching to a 2.63 ERA through 54 2/3 innings. Nardi was a steady high-leverage reliever early in his Miami tenure but struggled in 2024 and did not pitch in 2025 while dealing with a back injury. And Simpson posted a 7.34 ERA over 30 2/3 innings last season, his first at the MLB level.
Miami has five right-handed relief options on the 40-man roster who seem like locks for the roster assuming they enter the season healthy in Fairbanks, Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher, Tyler Phillips and Lake Bachar. Janson Junk would be a logical option as a long-reliever, as well.
Miami has to clear two spots on its 40-man roster to make room for King and Paddack, whose signings are not yet official. Moving reliever Ronny Henriquez, who is out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery, to the 60-day injured list will free up one spot.
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Miami Herald
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.