Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

*PREDICTION*

As teams all across baseball gear up for the Winter Meetings to start, there have been reports that this year’s event could be very eventful. Oftentimes, the Winter Meetings can just be full of rumors, but many insiders across the league are wondering if this year could be different.

There are multiple teams that need help in the worst way, especially in the pitching department. This could see a run on arms take place, especially because franchises don’t want to get left behind in free agency or be forced to make a trade to address the problem.

Luckily for teams, there are plenty of quality arms available in the starting pitching department, all of which could be gems for a squad. One of these is veteran right-hander Michael King, who spent the last few seasons as a member of the San Diego Padres.

King has been awesome on the mound during his career, but injuries have also taken hold of him over the years. This past season, injuries limited him to just 73.1 innings of work over 15 starts for San Diego.

But during that time, King put up an ERA of 3.44, while also striking out more than one batter per inning he pitched. King has sneaky stuff on the mound, and he has found a way to use it to his advantage after transitioning to a starting pitcher.

In 2024, King had a record of 13-9, with an ERA of 2.95, while punching out 201 batters over 173.2 innings of work. The ability is there for King to become a true ace in the big leagues, but he just needs to stay healthy.

Teams understand this, and even with the injury concerns, King could still land a very nice contract on the open market. King could be a cheaper option for a front-line starter than others on the market, and this could see teams going after him.

The right-hander isn’t expected to return to the Padres, which opens the door for another team to sign him away. But where this could be remains to be seen, and King may have to wait to see how the other pitching market shakes out.

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Michael King Heads Back to AL East, Will Sign With Baltimore Orioles

As King looks for his next landing spot, the Baltimore Orioles could be a really strong option for him. Baltimore needs more starting pitching help, and the team never replaced ace Corbin Burnes after he departed in free agency last offseason.

While King isn’t on the same level as Burnes, he could still become the top starter for this team and give them much more relevance on the mound. King could help this team get back to the postseason if he can remain healthy, and this could be a smart investment from Baltimore.

The veteran may be willing to sign a smaller contract to maximize himself over the years, and this could also help Baltimore land him. The Orioles haven’t been known to spend big money in free agency, so King could be the perfect fit.

King pitched in the American League East while with the New York Yankees a few years ago, so he is very familiar with the division. This could be a solid pairing, and both sides would likely benefit from a move like this.