The pitching market in free agency is moving.
For starters, right-hander Dylan Cease signed for seven years, $210 million with the Toronto Blue Jays. For relievers, right-hander Devin Williams signed for three years, $51 million with the New York Mets and right-hander Ryan Helsley signed for two years, $28 million with the Baltimore Orioles.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat about the Detroit Tigers in the pitching market?
The Tigers are seeking upgrades in both the starting rotation and bullpen, showing interest in right-hander Michael King and right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. There's also mutual interest in a reunion with right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
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Apr 1, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) delivers against the Cleveland Guardians at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn ImagesBoth King and Fairbanks had options for the 2026 season.
They're now free agents for the first time.
King declined his side of a $15 million mutual option, taking a $3.75 million buyout and entering free agency after two seasons with the San Diego Padres, following five seasons with the New York Yankees. He then turned down the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Padres, meaning any other team that signs him will forfeit a draft pick.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs for Fairbanks, the Tampa Bay Rays declined his $11 million club option after seven seasons. He is expected to sign before King – and could be the next reliever off the board after generating interest from many teams.
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King, 30, posted a 3.44 ERA with 26 walks (8.4% walk rate) and 76 strikeouts (24.7% strikeout rate) across 73⅓ innings in 15 starts in 2025. A nerve injury in his shoulder and a knee injury limited him due to stints on the injured list, but he showcased his return to full health with four starts in September.
He throws five pitches: sinker, four-seamer, changeup, sweeper and slider. His fastball sits around 93 mph with an above-average whiff rate, but he is best known for his changeup, which limits contact and suppresses damage.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Tigers covet pitchers with high-quality changeups and splitters – and they value their draft picks, complicating any pursuit of King after he rejected the qualifying offer.
King transitioned from reliever to starter upon joining the Padres from the Yankees in December 2023 as part of the Juan Soto trade. From 2024-25, he posted a 3.10 ERA across 247 innings in 46 games (45 starts), including a 2.95 ERA in 2024.
It's easy to understand why the Tigers need to add to their rotation.
The Tigers have five starters – Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson, Casey Mize and Troy Melton – but Skubal, Flaherty and Mize are set to become free agents after the 2026 season, while Olson has suffered two shoulder injuries in two years and Melton lacks experience as a starter in the big leagues.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSigning King would provide short-term impact and long-term stability.
Jul 22, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) throws to first for an out against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesFairbanks, who turns 31 in mid-December, registered a 2.83 ERA with 18 walks (7.4% walk rate) and 59 strikeouts (24.2% strikeout rate) across 60⅓ innings in 61 games in 2025, racking up 27 saves in 32 opportunities.
From 2023-25, Fairbanks compiled a 2.98 ERA as the Rays' closer and ranked 12th among MLB relievers with 75 saves.
Fairbanks also dealt with four stints on the injured list during that three-year span: right forearm inflammation and left hip inflammation in May 2023, a nerve-related issue in April 2024 and a right lat strain in August 2024.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe stayed healthy for the entire 2025 campaign, surpassing 46 innings for the first time in his seven-year MLB career.
Fairbanks relies on four pitches: four-seamer, slider, changeup and cutter. His fastball averaged 97.3 mph, while his slider generated a 30.8% whiff rate. He threw both his changeup and cutter less than 5% of the time.
The Tigers could have five of eight bullpen spots already secured with Will Vest, Tyler Holton, Brenan Hanifee, Brant Hurter and Beau Brieske. Of that group, only Vest has established himself as a trustworthy option in high-leverage situations.
It's clear the Tigers need more swing-and-miss relievers for big moments.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSigning Fairbanks would be a step in that direction.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers free agency: Michael King, Pete Fairbanks interest
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