NY Mets Monday Morning GM: 3 targets off the board, why they aren’t Queens-bound

Three potential New York Mets offseason targets landed elsewhere this weekend. All seemed to cost a reasonable amount via free agency and trade.

Who are they and why did David Stearns feel like he should pass?

1) Michael King

The perfect match for the Mets in terms of dollar amount and years, Michael King signed a three-year deal with the San Diego Padres for $75 million. When the conversation stops there, it’s a New York tragedy he didn’t come to the Mets.

King met a lot of the criteria Stearns was looking for. Short-term and talented, it’s easy to conclude why he won’t be calling Queens home.

King’s contract includes an opt out after year one. With the added loss of two draft picks for signing him as well as the loss of $1 million in international bonus pool money attached because he rejected a qualifying offer from the Padres, the Mets were at risk of King bolting after a single year. He’s not without his own question marks. Held back for years by the New York Yankees, it was only in 2024 when he truly began to shine as a starting pitcher.

Still good last year, durability was a bit of an issue. He made only 15 starts in 2025 and while there are so many other numbers to differentiate them, King had an ERA only slightly better than Clay Holmes. His 3.44 versus King’s 3.53 wasn’t all that significant to get paid twice as much.

It’s a shame the Mets didn’t add King. However, with the deal he ended up getting from San Diego, we can understand why he set himself up for the best situation there. Way too much could have gone wrong for the Mets.