News Padres Team Notes

[San Diego Padres]

Fall League update Week 4

The fourth week of the Arizona Fall League ends with the Peoria Javelinas in third place of the six teams. They have a 10-10 record overall and played to their first tie the past week. With both nine-inning and seven-inning games being played, Monday is an off day for the whole league each week.

The Javelinas had a 2-3-1 record for their six games, and the Padres prospects remain healthy and are contributing to the team. RF/LF Braedon Karpathios has been in 14 games with a .256/.389/.349 line and a .738 OPS. He has four doubles and five RBI, but no homers. 2B/SS Ryan Jackson has played in 12 games with a .184/.396/.263 line with a .659 OPS. He has three doubles and eight RBI with no homers. C/DH Lamar King Jr. has played in 12 games with a .179/.319/.205 line and a .524 OPS with a double and no RBI.

RHP Maikel Miralles has started one game and pitched in four games with 12.2 IP. His ERA is 7.82 after having a miserable start a week ago. RHP Kannon Kemp has a start in five games with 5 IP and a 1.80 ERA. RHP Tucker Musgrove has started a game in five games pitched and 5 IP with a 3.60 ERA. RHP Johan Moreno has a 3.18 ERA in five games and 5 IP with a .105 average against.

RHP Carson Montgomery has started four games and 10.1 IP with a 1.74 ERA and a 1-0 record. He has seven strikeouts to seven walks and a .215 average against. Montgomery was drafted by the Padres in the 11th round of the 2023 draft. He started the 2024 season with Low-A Lake Elsinore and struggled with elbow issues. After a couple of months of debate, the organization shut him down and he had Tommy John surgery. Missing the rest of 2024 and all of 2025, Montgomery is fortunate to be able to pitch in the AFL as he continues his rehab from surgery. These are his first opportunities to pitch in competition after his rehab started. His sinker/slider/changeup pitch mix is still being built up and refined, but his low ERA in 10.1 IP is good sign. He formally sat high-90’s with his fastball and is clocked now at mid-90’s.

The AFL winds up their season Nov. 12 and has a Home Run Derby and Fall Stars game before the playoffs begin on Nov. 13. All six teams take part in a round-robin playoff structure with the championship game on Nov. 15.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/minors/51252/fall-league-update-week-4

 

[San Diego Padres]

Michael King opts out, MLBPA announces free agents

As expected, San Diego Padres starter Michael King exercised his option to opt-out of his deal with the team, making him a free agent. The Padres could, and should, extend a qualifying offer to King, which if accepted, would give him a one-year, $22.025 million contract for the 2026 season. If King declines the offer and chooses to sign with another team, San Diego would receive draft compensation.

Michael King has declined his mutual option with the Padres and will test free agency, per @sdutKevinAcee.

Where will he sign this offseason? pic.twitter.com/fyvhQLugaV

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 2, 2025

San Diego acquired King as part of the Juan Soto trade that saw King, catcher Kyle Higashioka and pitchers Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito and Drew Thorpe join the Padres organization. Trent Grisham also went to New York with Soto. At the time of the trade, it was reported that King was the piece that made the deal happen.

With all that said, it would seem unlikely that San Diego would simply allow him to leave without attempting to re-sign him, which is why the Padres should make the qualifying offer. In a recent article from Jim Bowden of The Athletic, he predicted King could get a three-year, $75 million contract.

Contracts and salaries for pitchers have been much higher in recent years, but King has some health concerns that might suppress his monetary value. However, when King is healthy he has shown to be a front-line starter, who has multiple pitches and is effective. He will have plenty of suitors, who would like to add him to their rotation.

The MLBPA also announced the free agents for each team, which included six players from the Padres. Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez, Ryan O’Hearn, Jose Iglesias, Nestor Cortes and Martin Maldonado are all free agents and can sign with any team without restriction.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

137 Players Become XX(B) Free Agentshttps://t.co/0el3P8uqjE pic.twitter.com/9NrsvXRxLr

— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) November 2, 2025

With the World Series coming to an end, the business of baseball can begin. For the Padres, that business started with the retirement of manager Mike Shildt, and once that position is filled the focus can shift to possibly re-signing players like King or O’Hearn and identifying free agent targets, while building the roster for 2026.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ael-king-opts-out-mlbpa-announces-free-agents