Padres Lock In Matsui and Hart, Let King Walk
San Diego retains three relievers while declining options for Pivetta and King ahead of Monday's free agency deadline.
By Aiko Brooks ·
The San Diego Padres will keep their bullpen intact for the 2027 season, even as the starting rotation undergoes major changes.
On Saturday, the club informed left-hander Kyle Hart that it would exercise his $2.5 million option for next year. Simultaneously, the team received notice that Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta will stay. Matsui is scheduled to earn $6.5 million in 2027, with a further opt-out opportunity before a $7 million season in 2028. Peralta, 35, will make $4.45 million in the final year of his four-year deal.
Matsui, 31, delivered a sharp performance in 2026 that surprised some observers. After posting a 3.86 ERA and a .303 on-base percentage in his first two major league seasons, the left-hander lowered those figures to 1.83 and .288 this year. He pitched 64 innings across 54 games while handling higher-leverage situations. Peralta began the season strongly but finished with a 3.61 ERA in 77 one-third innings, working primarily in games where the Padres trailed.
Hart, who turns 34 this month, posted a 4.92 ERA while serving mostly as a long reliever. However, he recorded a 3.60 ERA over his final 18 appearances and 25 innings as the team pushed for a strong finish.
The roster moves also include departures from the starting staff. The Padres declined $14 million options for Nick Pivetta on Saturday and Michael King on Thursday. King opted out of his contract rather than collect $58 million over the next two seasons. The only remaining decisions before the Monday afternoon deadline involve mutual options for Miguel Andujar, Griffin Canning, and Lucas Giolito. All three are expected to be declined, marking the first time since 2014 that a mutual option may go unexercised across the league.
Free agents can sign with any team beginning at 2 p.m. PT Monday. King and Adrian Morejon, who is entering free agency, are expected to draw heavy interest. Many in the league anticipate a busy market for top players during the month before the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on Dec. 1, which would pause all transactions until owners lock out players.
