Michael King has opted out of his Padres deal, and the Blue Jays should be ready to pounce. The right-hander would be an ideal No. 2 behind Dylan Cease.

King officially became a free agent on Oct. 29. He walked away from roughly $53 million over the next two seasons, presumably chasing more guarantees.

His 2026 explains the confidence. He posted a 3.21 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over a career-high 185 innings.

He also bounced back from an injury-riddled 2025. It was his second season with at least 30 starts in the last three years.

He doesn't overpower hitters, but he limits hard contact and keeps his walks at a league-average level. That's a recipe that tends to age well.

October helped his case, too. He allowed one earned run over 14 postseason innings, including a two-inning save against the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS.

Michael King and Seiya Suzuki beat one Tarik Skubal deal

Is he an ace? No, and Toronto doesn't need him to be.

Cease already fills that role. King would slot in behind him as one of the more reliable No. 2 starters in the game.

Durability is the concern, but there's a twist. He only became a full-time starter in 2024, so there isn't much mileage on his arm.

A four-year deal in the $100 million range feels realistic. That's a big number, but far less than what Tarik Skubal will command.

King plus a bat like Seiya Suzuki is the smartest path for Toronto. It costs about half of a Skubal deal and fixes two problems instead of one.

Kevin Pillar made the same point recently, arguing the Jays should spread their money across position groups instead of loading up on one ace.

Signing King and Suzuki is like buying two solid tires instead of one fancy rim. The car actually drives better.

The competition will be fierce once free agency opens. If Ross Atkins wants a reliable arm behind Cease, King is the name to call first.