Cubs could turn their Wild Card nightmare into offseason opportunity with Michael King

It was clear that the Chicago Cubs ran into a buzzsaw when they were swept out of the playoffs by the San Diego Padres, and Michael King set the tone early. A Cubs' offense that had been dominant for most of the regular season faded into the San Diego night, and King was largely the reason why.

King flirted with a no-hitter in his Game 1 start against the Cubs, striking out eight across seven innings of work. It was an abrupt reminder of the very thing the Cubs lacked throughout the year, a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher capable of missing bats frequently.

After the qualifying offer stunted his market last offseason, King is in a position to cash-in this winter. In 32 starts with the Padres this season, King posted an ERA of 3.21. While his strikeout rate was down, 21%, his career rate is 25.4%. During the playoffs this year, it jumped up to 28.3%.

Cubs labeled ideal Michael King destination after failing to solve him in the playoffs

The Cubs were linked to King last offseason but what stunted his market was the fact that he had the qualifying offer attached to his free agency. He ultimately signed a three-year deal with the Padres worth $75 million, but has a player option for 2027 and 2028. Considering how dominant he looked in the playoffs, he's likely to test free agency and it's fair to suggest that the Cubs will once again be interested.

As the Cubs reshape their pitching staff this offseason, it would seem like they are going to focus on three things: velocity, swing-and-miss, and groundball rate. Given how Wrigley Field played last year, the assumption is the Cubs are moving away from pitchers who rely on fly-ball outs. King checks two of those boxes in his ability to miss bats and keep the ball on the ground.

While King won't have a qualifying offer attached to his free agency this time around, he could be eyeing a return to San Diego. While San Diego had been in a precarious payroll position in recent years, the recent sale of the team should put them in a position to be able to sign King to a long-term contract. Adding the looming work stoppage as another factor, perhaps the simplest path in free agency, as King would see it, is to work out a deal with the Padres as soon as possible.

Regardless, this is the type of move you should expect from the Cubs this offseason. If not King, someone else who either misses bats or keeps the ball on the ground. That is likely going to be the goal for this front office.

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