ORLANDO — The annual MLB winter meetings have been slow thus far. However, the New York Mets are working hard behind the scenes to improve their ballclub this offseason.
According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, the Mets recently held a video meeting with free agent right-handed starting pitcher Michael King. “These are not uncommon, and King had video meetings with more than just the Mets, but this exemplifies a level of seriousness between the parties,” Sherman wrote.
Mets On SI reported over the weekend that the Mets have shown interest in King. Now, The Post confirms that the Mets have connected with him via video call.
King will turn 31 during the 2026 season, and the expectation is that he will sign a three- or four-year deal on the free agent market. This type of contract aligns with the Mets’ approach, as they are generally reluctant to commit long-term to starting pitchers in their thirties.
One consideration with King is that he rejected the San Diego Padres’ $22.05 million qualifying offer. This means the Mets would have to surrender draft pick compensation to sign him, a factor Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has typically avoided in past acquisitions.
However, King brings valuable experience pitching under the bright lights in New York, having spent five seasons with the New York Yankees from 2019 to 2023. During that span, he posted a solid 3.38 ERA in 115 appearances.
King’s 2025 season was limited to just 15 starts due to shoulder and knee inflammation, but his 2024 campaign was impressive. He recorded a 13-9 record, a 2.95 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, a 3.33 FIP, and tallied 201 strikeouts in 173.2 innings over 31 appearances (30 starts).
The addition of King would significantly bolster a Mets rotation that struggled last season. Currently, the projected rotation features rookie phenom Nolan McLean leading the group, alongside Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Clay Holmes. Young talents Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, and Christian Scott provide important depth.
Stay tuned as the Mets continue to pursue upgrades this offseason. For more detailed coverage and updates, consider choosing Sports Illustrated as your preferred sports news source on Google.
https://www.si.com/mlb/mets/onsi/news/new-york-mets-held-video-meeting-with-impact-starting-pitcher