Report: Tigers have interest in Michael King

[David Panian]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/tigers-have-interest-in-michael-king.html

This summarizes a Detroit Free Press article about the Tigers being interested in free agent starting pitcher Michael King, who has pitched for San Diego the past couple of years. He's coming off an injury-plagued season — a nerve problem in his throwing shoulder and a knee injury. When he's healthy, he's very good, maybe even someone who could take over the No. 1 starter role if Skubal leaves. King finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting in 2024.

King rejected a qualifying offer from the Padres to become a free agent.

The Freep story also says the TIgers are interested in free agent reliever Pete Fairbanks, recently of the Tampa Bay Rays. He had 27 saves in 32 opportunities last season with a 4-5 record and 2.83 ERA in 60.1 innings across 61 games. He struck out 59, walked 18 and gave up seven homers.

The article also says there is mutual interest between the Tigers and Kyle Finnegan for Finnegan to stay with Detroit.

David

[Paul Meloche]

I’d be really happy if we get Finnegan, Fairbanks, and King. 

Paul M.

On Dec 2, 2025, at 8:36 PM, David Panian <dpa...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Peter Welch]

Agreed.  If we can sign both Fairbanks and Finnegan that would be great.  I suspect we'll only sign one of them.  Fairbanks and Finnegan are both righties.  We already have Vest as the main righty in the bullpen.  

I think the Tigers are also looking for a lefty reliever who can miss bats.  Gregory Soto is available (Soto not only can miss bats, but he misses the plate most of the time...ha ha!)  Just kidding, not interested in Soto.  He's too wild and melts down too often.

Holton does a decent job as the main lefty in the bullpen, but he's not a big strikeout guy.  Our other lefty Brant Hurter is more suited to middle relief.

The Tigers like Bailey Horn as a possible power lefty in the bullpen.  Horn throws hard but has control issues.

King is good.  He had some injuries this year that reduced him to only 15 starts, but he'd be worth signing on a shorter-term deal.

He used to be a middle reliever/setup guy, but converted to full-time starter a couple of years ago.

I suppose it's possible he could go back to being a reliever if needed.  The way Hinch likes to manage his bullpen, I could see King being used as a swingman.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 12:13 AM
To: David Panian <dpa...@gmail.com>
Cc: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Report: Tigers have interest in Michael King

 

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[Paul Meloche]

Finnegan, Vest, and Fairbanks would be a solid 7-8-9th inning crew. Holton too based on matchups. I agree about the power lefty, so perhaps go that route vs bring Finnegan back? Maybe Chafin is available...lol
 
In theory Brieske could fit into the bullpen plans too.

Although I wouldn't put anything past Hinch, I hope if King is healthy and we sign him it would be as a traditional starter instead of a swingman role.

Paul

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[Roger King]

Speaking of Gregory Soto, I was skimming a fairly long ESPN piece yesterday from a couple of their baseball writers speculating on 25 different players who could be traded this off-season and which teams are likely targeting them.  Of course Skubal was the first name listed but also the writers thought it was only something like a 15% chance he gets traded.

There were a number of OF’s listed and the Tigers were often one of the teams supposedly interested in a few of them. I thought this was encouraging as it might mean they’re not just pencilling in Meadows and Perez for the roster and are potentially looking to upgrade.

But it got me thinking about the Soto trade with Philly, which I think was the first real move Harris made when he took over.  And I couldn’t honestly recall another significant trade he has made for the Tigers since. Is there one? Which of course got me wondering if he’s a little rusty and will he be able to pull off any good deals if indeed he’s even leaning in that direction? 

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