Dylan Cease, Michael King reject qualifying offers; Padres in line for two extra draft picks

The Padres are losing two of the most sought-after starting pitchers in this year’s free agent class.

The team’s return will come in July, when they exercise two additional picks immediately between the fourth and fifth round of the amateur draft.

As expected, Dylan Cease and Michal King both rejected the qualifying off the Padres made to them on Nov. 6.

Accepting the offer would have guaranteed them $22.025 million in 2026.

A record four players — Trent Grisham (Yankees), Shota Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers) and Brandon Woodruff (Brewers) — accepted qualifying offers before Tuesday’s 1 p.m. PT deadline. Nine players declined.

It had been widely considered virtually certain that neither Padres pitcher would accept the offer.

Cease is expected to command between $25 million to $30 million a year. Industry estimates estimate the average annual salary for King between $20 million and $23 million.

The 29-year-old Cease is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career in 2025, posting a 4.55 ERA over 165 innings. But his 162 starts are most in the major leagues since 2021, but he is the only MLB pitcher to have at least 200 strikeouts in each of the past five seasons and was a top-4 finisher in Cy Young voting in 2022 (American League) and ‘24 (National League).

King, 30, made just 15 starts in 2025 due to a nerve issue near his shoulder and a knee injury. But his 3.03 ERA in 45 starts over the past two seasons ranked 13th among pitchers who made at least 45 starts in that span.

Both could return to San Diego, where they played the past two seasons, but it is likely they will end up elsewhere. The team that signs them will lose at least one draft pick, depending on whether they were a Competitive Balance Tax payor, revenue sharing recipient or neither. As a CBT payor, the Padres will receive a pick after the fourth round is completed for each player it loses.

They go forward in the offseason with starting pitching as their biggest need.

Nick Pivetta (2.78 ERA in 31 starts) and Randy Vásquez (3.70 ERA in 26 starts) are the only returning significant contributors from last year’s rotation. JP Sears, who had a 5.47 ERA in five starts after being acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline, remains as well.

Joe Musgrove, who posted a 3.23 ERA in 97 starts for the Padres from 2021 through ‘24, returns after missing last season while rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery.

Kyle Hart re-signed for $1 million (plus a $2.5 million club option) after making 20 appearances (six starts, 6.66 ERA) for the Padres in 2025. The team also has Matt Waldron, one of the staples of their 2024 rotation who made just one start for them in ‘25, and is considering converting at least one of its relievers into a starter.