The San Diego Padres have made a bold statement this offseason, doubling down on their ambitions with a pair of headline-grabbing signings that have sent ripples through Major League Baseball. On December 23, 2025, the Padres locked in right-handed starter Michael King with a three-year, $75 million contract, and just hours earlier, sealed a four-year deal with Korean infielder Song Sung-mun worth a reported $15 million. These moves signal that the Padres are not just aiming to compete—they’re going all in for a championship run.
For Michael King, the decision to stay in San Diego was about more than just baseball. Despite his East Coast roots and the natural pull to return closer to home, King’s life has taken root in Southern California. Alongside his wife Sheila and their daughter, King has embraced the city, the team, and the lifestyle. "We have roots here. The foundation that we have, the atmosphere playing here is just second to none. The players that (A.J. Preller) has put together, the staff that he has put together made it so it was very familiar to me and very fun to be a part of," King told Jeff Sanders of SDUT. "And I think we have some unfinished business, and I want to be a part of a championship team."
King’s return solidifies the top of a rotation that will feature Nick Pivetta as his co-headliner. With a roster that also boasts stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Mason Miller, Ramon Laureano, Adrian Morejon, and the newly acquired Song Sung-mun, the Padres have assembled a squad that looks formidable on paper. The message from the front office is clear: the time to win is now.
General Manager A.J. Preller has been the architect behind this aggressive push. Speaking to reporters at King’s signing press conference, Preller didn’t hide his excitement about the team’s new infielder from the KBO. "He’s been really a super productive player, and we feel like we’ll have some versatility," Preller said. "He’s somebody that’s been on our radar here for at least the last couple years."
Song Sung-mun, who captained the Kiwoom Heroes and was named the KBO Player of the Year by his peers in 2025, arrives in San Diego with a strong pedigree. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter broke out over the past two seasons, smashing a career-high 26 home runs and stealing 25 bases in 144 games in 2025, all while batting .315 with a .387 on-base percentage and a .917 OPS. The year before, he hit .340 with 19 homers and 21 steals. Song’s journey from making his KBO debut at 18 to becoming one of Korea’s most productive hitters is a testament to his perseverance and growth. "In the last two years especially, he’s taken his game to a different level," Preller noted.
Song’s fit in San Diego’s infield is still being mapped out. He’s spent most of his career at second and third base, with only limited time at first. With veterans Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts manning the left side of the infield and Jake Cronenworth’s flexibility to shift between second and first, Song offers valuable depth and versatility. Preller hinted that Song’s initial role could be as a utility player off the bench, but with Cronenworth’s name swirling in trade rumors, the door is open for Song to step into a more prominent role if circumstances change.
Song’s arrival is also historic, making him the sixth Kiwoom Heroes player to join MLB and the latest in a line of position players from the Korean club to make the leap. The Heroes, despite never winning a KBO championship since their 2008 inception, have become a pipeline for MLB talent. Song joins former teammates Kim Ha-sung (now with the Atlanta Braves), Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants), and Kim Hye-sung (Los Angeles Dodgers) in the big leagues. The Padres will face the Giants and Dodgers 13 times each in 2026 and the Braves seven times, setting up plenty of opportunities for these ex-Heroes to cross paths on the diamond.
Song expressed gratitude for the support he received from his former club and teammates. Upon returning to South Korea after signing his deal, he shared, "I told them congratulations. I think (Kim) Ha-sung was influenced well by Ha-sung in the team where he showed good performance. I want to show good performances often in the future." Song also acknowledged the comfort of having familiar faces in the league as he adapts to life in the United States. "In a way, you have to adapt to a new environment in the United States, and I think there will definitely be a lonely time. The fact that there are (Lee) Jung-hoo and (Kim) Hye-sung, who are best friends on the same planet, will be a comfort to my heart. I often meet them when I'm lonely, and I think I'll feel different and have fun."
Financially, Song’s move is notable as well. The Padres must pay the Kiwoom Heroes a $3 million release fee, plus a supplemental 15% of any salary escalators triggered in Song’s contract. If Song wins the 2026 Rookie of the Year award, his 2027 salary jumps by $1 million; a top-five MVP finish bumps his salary by $1 million per remaining year. The Heroes have already received over $40 million in release fees from MLB teams, a testament to their role as a bridge between the KBO and MLB.
Song is not only looking forward to the challenges ahead but also hopes to inspire the next generation of Korean players. He pointed to the Heroes’ ace, Ahn Woo-jin, as a likely candidate to follow in his footsteps, saying, "(Ahn) Woo-jin will definitely be able to go." Song’s message to his younger teammates was clear: "Two years ago, he was a tough player in Korea, but after trying, persevering, and preparing hard, such a good day came. As much as I have experienced and seen this from the side, I think my juniors will be able to get motivated. If you continue to work hard as you do now, a good day will come."
As the Padres gear up for the 2026 season, expectations are sky-high. The blend of homegrown stars, established veterans, and international newcomers like Song Sung-mun gives San Diego one of the most intriguing rosters in baseball. There’s still some offseason maneuvering to be done—especially in the infield—but with Michael King and Song Sung-mun on board, the Padres have made it clear: they’re not just dreaming about October—they’re planning for it.
