The Miami Marlins signed left-handed reliever John King to a one-year Major League deal for the 2026 season. The contract is worth $1.5 million, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. King reported to camp Friday morning in Jupiter, Florida, and played catch with fellow Miami signee Chris Paddack.
King said the Marlins’ young roster and focus on winning helped convince him to join the organization. “It’s a really exciting young group, and so just meeting with the team, and their vision of just wanting to win, it really enticed me to be a part of this,” King said. “And they showed a lot of interest in me too, which is awesome. It was fun to go through that process, and I’m excited to be here.”
John King brings ground-ball profile to Miami
King, 31, was non-tendered by the St. Louis Cardinals in November. He has a 111 career ERA+ and a 5.9 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate in 214 outings across six seasons with the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals.
King recorded a 2.85 ERA in 60 innings in 2024 before posting a 4.66 ERA in 48 1/3 innings in 2025. He ranked in the 98th percentile in ground-ball rate in both seasons, recording a 61.5% mark in 2024 and a 60% mark in 2025. Right-handed hitters have a career slash line of .302/.353/.430 against King, while left-handed hitters have hit .251/.291/.337.
King said he worked during the offseason to refine his four-seam fastball and curveball while continuing to rely on his sinker, changeup and slider. “I feel like I really worked hard this offseason to dial those in, but also to not get away from who I am, which is sinker, changeup, slider, majority sinker/changeup,” King said. “So I’m interested to see and excited to see how the Marlins want me to kind of implement the new pitches in my arsenal.”
Miami Marlins make 40-man roster move
King will join Cade Gibson and Andrew Nardi as left-handed options on the Miami Marlins’ 40-man roster. The club designated left-handed pitcher Josh Simpson for assignment to make room for King after Simpson recorded a 7.34 ERA in 31 appearances as a rookie in 2025. Gibson posted a 2.63 ERA in 44 outings, while Nardi has not pitched in a game since August 2024 and threw a bullpen session after pitchers and catchers reported.
Manager Clayton McCullough identified Gibson, Nardi, Pete Fairbanks, Calvin Faucher, Lake Bachar and Tyler Phillips as bullpen options capable of recording outs against left-handed hitters. McCullough said King’s strike-throwing ability and ground-ball profile could give him value in different relief situations.
“He throws a ton of strikes and keeps the ball on the ground, has always suppressed slug and damage,” McCullough said, “and another one that we feel that our group can maybe help get a little maybe more miss versus left. And he’s always going to have the ability to get the ground ball. He’s a great dude in talking with him. And getting to know him, I think he’s going to fit right in well with us, and someone that will be ready to go take down any situation. And again, going back to the premium ability to fill up the strike zone, keep the ball on the ground, limit damage. Those are all really important things for guys out of the ‘pen.”
The Miami Marlins made their one-year deal with Chris Paddack official earlier Thursday and moved Ronny Henriquez to the 60-day injured list after his offseason Tommy John surgery. King joins Paddack, Fairbanks and Christopher Morel as Miami’s Major League signings since the end of the 2025 season.
Source: Original report