Skeptics will assume that, much like the A’s last offseason, the Marlins are wary of a complaint regarding their allocation of revenue-sharing funds. Optimists will look to Miami’s hot finish to the 2025 season and the steps forward from young core pieces like Kyle Stowers, Jakob Marsee And Edward Cabrera as the driving factor behind the apparent spending pressure. In reality, some of both are probably true.
Rosenthal and Drellich write that the Marlins are expected to bring in about $70 million annually in revenue distribution. Teams that allocate less than 150% of the revenue-sharing funds they receive to the squad (in terms of CBT obligations) could attract the ire of the union and be subject to a grievance. That is not true in all cases. Miami’s CBT ledger was approximately $85 million in 2025, per RosterResource. However, the Fish are currently expected to receive around $70 million in CGT consideration.
It seems that avoiding that 150% threshold in consecutive seasons really increases the risk of complaints. The A’s were the only regular salary cellar resident who appeared to be the victim of a possible complaint last season. (They responded by drawing Luis Severino And José Leclerc and extend Brent Rooker And Laurens Butler.) None of the Pirates, Marlins or Rays seemed to be facing the same pressure.
However, Pittsburgh, Miami and Tampa Bay had earned well over $100 million in CBT consideration in each of the previous seasons. The A’s posted CBT figures between $68 million and $84 million between 2022 and 2024 before finally opening the wallet a bit to avoid that potential upset. Rosenthal and Drellich also suggest that the Marlins may want to avoid any battle with other clubs in the upcoming CBA talks, where luxury taxpayers could argue that the Marlins are not using their money well. Readers are encouraged to read the piece for full, more detailed details on the matter and the thoughts of other club officials and agents who intervene while chatting with the Athletic duo.
Regardless of the motivation, the fact that King is on Miami’s radar is notable. He’s a former Marlins draft pick, although that was under previous ownership and a different front office regime, so those ties are minimal at this point. King would join a rotation that also includes the aforementioned Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Braxton Garrett And Ryan Weers – with prospects Tomas White, Robby Snelling, Dax Fulton And Max Meijer (recovering from surgery) where possible options are also taken into account.
King, 30, has been a stellar performer since switching from a swingman role with the Yankees – who acquired him in 2017 Garrett Cooper swap – into the rotation late in the 2023 season. His 2025 campaign was shortened by a nerve injury in his shoulder and a knee injury late in the season, but King boasts a stellar 2.93 ERA (3.50 FIP, 3.66 SIERA) with a 27.4% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate in 53 starts since moving to a full-time rotation role.
Adding King would give Miami a playoff-caliber starter to pair with weapons like Alcantara, Cabrera and Perez. He would also make it easier for the Fish to receive offers for young pitching, whether that be Cabrera, Weathers or some of those touted prospects (headlined by White). The Marlins could also more strongly consider trading Alcantara if they add a veteran starter, but they would still be selling somewhat low for him (and trading Alcantara would offset much of the payroll gain they would realize by signing King).
The Marlins are looking for meaningful offensive upgrades, but the free agent market is generally thin on impact hitters this offseason. If the Fish instead choose to further deepen their organizational strength, they could use their stockpile of quality young arms to explore the trade market in search of more meaningful upgrades at the infield corners, designated hitter and/or in right field.
King rejected a $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Padres. The Marlins would pay the lightest of three penalty levels for signing him, due to their status as a revenue share recipient. Signing King would give Miami the third-highest pick in the 2026 draft.
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