Bold headline: The Tigers are eyeing Michael King as a key addition.
Detroit reportedly has shown interest in free agent starter Michael King, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. King has also been connected to the Cubs, Blue Jays, and Marlins, though the latter two clubs appear unlikely fits. Toronto may have wrapped up its rotation additions with Cody Ponce, while Miami has other priorities—especially infield and bullpen—and has long seemed a stretch for King at this level.
King’s 2025 season was marred by injuries, limiting him to 15 starts. A nerve issue in his throwing shoulder proved more stubborn than anticipated, costing about two and a half months. He also had a brief injured list stint due to knee inflammation. Upon returning in September, he looked unsettled, yielding 10 runs with an 11:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 15 2/3 innings.
That injury history adds risk to King’s first foray into free agency. When healthy, he’s among the better pitchers in MLB. He finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting in 2024, posting a 2.95 ERA over 173 2/3 innings in his first full season as a big-league starter. He started 2025 strong, recording a 2.59 ERA with a 28% strikeout rate over 10 appearances before the nerve issue sidelined him.
There was no structural damage, and King finished the season healthy overall. The Padres, however, chose to roll with Yu Darvish for an elimination game in the Wild Card Series and later extended him a qualifying offer, suggesting they viewed him as a factor for 2026. King rejected the offer in pursuit of a multi-year deal, and he’s not widely expected to return to San Diego.
For Detroit, the objective is both starting and relief depth. The Tigers lack a definitive No. 2 starter behind Tarik Skubal. Reese Olson appeared to be the next option, but shoulder strain kept him out for the final two months of 2025. Jack Flaherty, who exercised a $20 million player option after a roller-coaster year, is back in the mix. Casey Mize performed solidly overall but projects as a No. 3 or a strong high-end No. 4 starter rather than a playoff-world behind Skubal. Jackson Jobe won’t be available until the second half after Tommy John surgery in June.
A likely internal candidate to fill the fifth spot if 2025 started today is rookie right-hander Troy Melton, who pitched in relief down the stretch. Keider Montero and Sawyer Gipson-Long head a thin group of depth arms, each with minor-league options and the versatility to work out of the bullpen. Teams typically carry more than five starters, so the Tigers will likely pursue one or two additional starters to cushion against injuries.
How this unfolds could shape Detroit’s rotation in 2026. Do you think Michael King is the right fit to anchor or stabilize the Tigers’ rotation, given his upside when fully healthy? Or should Detroit prioritize longer-term investments or other avenues for rotation depth? Share your thoughts in the comments.
