Padres Avoid Arbitration with Several Players

By Fabian Garcia

Padres Avoid Arbitration On All Players But One

Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

January 9, 2025

It’s been a slow off-season for the San Diego Padres. However, with the looming arbitration deadline hitting its’ climax on Thursday, January 9, it’s finally time for the Friars to secure their lineups.

All arbitration-eligible players must reach an agreement by 10 pm Pacific or face an arbitration hearing. The Padres have avoided arbitration since A.J. Preller took charge of baseball operations in 2014. This year could be different.

Michael King

Right-handed pitcher Michael King did not settle on a new contract for the 2025 season. King was acquired last offseason alongside five other players in the infamous Juan Soto trade with the New York Yankees. While at the time the trade was largely thought of as lopsided, both teams benefitted massively from their respective players.

Before his season with the Padres, the 29-year-old right-hander was a relief pitcher for the Yankees, pitching 247 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.38. In his 2024 season with the Swinging Friars, Michael King became an integral part of the team’s starting rotation, adapting to his new position with relative ease.

He pitched 173 2/3 innings ending the regular season with an ERA of 2.95, fifth-best in the National League. Additionally, he finished seventh in National League Cy Young voting for that year.

Padres Avoid Arbitration With Other Stars

Aside from King, the Padres five other arbitration-eligible players agreed to terms before the deadline. This list includes three-time batting champion Luis Arraez for $14 million, starting pitcher Dylan Cease for $13.75 million, reliever Jason Adam for $4.8 million, reliever Adrián Morejón for $2 million, and catcher Luis Campusano for $1 million.

The last player to go to arbitration was starting pitcher Andrew Cashner in 2013. The year before A.J. Preller took control. Cashner won that case for $2.4 million.

King’s 2025 salary will be determined in an arbitration hearing next month. To avoid arbitration the team must strike a deal before then.