Michael King wants Boston, but contract terms could decide everything.
On Sunday, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo shared a note on free agent starting pitcher Michael King, who has been linked to the Red Sox at various times throughout this offseason:
“The Red Sox are among a number of teams still involved in talks with righty Michael King, a source confirmed Sunday, though there is no set timeframe for King’s decision. King, who attended Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island and pitched at Boston College, has a crowded market and is sifting through possibilities. According to one source, King would ‘love to be in Boston’ but as always, it’s a matter of terms and dollars lining up.”
Despite missing time due to injury in 2025, King was still effective when he took the mound. Across 73 innings, he finished with a 5-3 record, a 3.44 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and a 1.20 WHIP. If he’s able to return at full strength, he profiles as a legitimate No. 2 starter in a big-league rotation - immediately making the acquisitions of Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo so much more intriguing ahead of next season.
As Cotillo noted, though, the real hurdle comes down to contract structure and financial commitment.
Boston has several paths it could take in negotiations, but the option King is likely pushing for is a long-term deal. That’s where friction arises, as the organization has been open about its reluctance to hand out extended contracts to pitchers entering their 30s - even when one is clearly motivated to stay in Boston.
But with Boston reportedly unwilling to spend into the CBT this offseason, any consternation from the Red Sox on the contract front should come as no surprise.
At some point, the Red Sox may need to recognize how rare this opportunity is.
A high-end starter who wants to be here doesn’t come around often. Meeting King’s demands would allow the front office to shift its full attention toward upgrading the offense, rather than continuing to circle back to the same unresolved pitching question.
And while Boston has done plenty to bolster their staff in the last few weeks, King would truly be capper on reshaping a staff in desperate need of depth after running out of steam in the Wild Card Round against the Yankees in October.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.
Category: General Sports
