Marlins Sign Veteran Lefty Reliever John King

The one-year, $1.5 million deal bolsters Miami's bullpen ahead of the 2026 season.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Miami Marlins have signed left-handed pitcher John King to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, adding veteran depth to their bullpen. King, 31, spent the past two-and-a-half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and has a career 3.80 ERA over 253.1 innings in the majors.

Why it matters

The Marlins have been actively rebuilding their bullpen this offseason, with King being their fourth major free agent signing along with Pete Fairbanks, Chris Paddack, and Christopher Morel. Adding an experienced lefty like King provides more options for manager Don Mattingly to navigate late-game situations.

The details

King struggled with the Cardinals last season, posting a 4.66 ERA with a .316 batting average against and 1.63 WHIP. However, he generated groundballs at a 60% rate, ranking in the 98th percentile of MLB. He throws a 93 mph sinker along with a changeup and slider. King will join Cade Gibson, Andrew Nardi, and Josh Simpson as left-handed relievers on the Marlins' 40-man roster.

  • King was non-tendered by the Cardinals in November 2025.
  • The Marlins signed King to a one-year, $1.5 million contract on February 11, 2026.

The players

John King

A 31-year-old left-handed pitcher who has spent the past two-and-a-half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pete Fairbanks

A right-handed reliever who was one of the Marlins' other major free agent signings this offseason.

Chris Paddack

A starting pitcher who was another of the Marlins' free agent additions this offseason.

Christopher Morel

A utility player who was the Marlins' fourth major free agent signing of the offseason.

Cade Gibson

A left-handed reliever on the Marlins' 40-man roster who had a 2.63 ERA in 54.2 innings last season.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to build depth in our bullpen to compete in the NL East. John King's experience and ability to get groundballs will be valuable assets.”

— Don Mattingly, Marlins Manager (Miami Herald)

What’s next

The Marlins will need to clear two spots on their 40-man roster to make room for King and Paddack's signings. Moving reliever Ronny Henriquez, who is out for the season after elbow surgery, to the 60-day injured list will free up one spot.

The takeaway

The Marlins are making a concerted effort to bolster their bullpen this offseason, adding experienced arms like King, Fairbanks, and Gibson to complement their young core of relievers. These moves demonstrate the team's commitment to building a more competitive pitching staff ahead of the 2026 season.