The New York Yankees are expected to be busy this offseason after failing to meet their sky-high expectations in 2025. With another shorter-than-expected playoff run in the books, the Yankees are set for an aggressive offseason, as they have been linked to just about every big-name target you can think of.
While the big moves will obviously catch attention, New York will also have to make some more under-the-radar additions in order to keep its roster balanced. With that being said, one MLB insider believes that the team could reunite with one of its former pitchers, San Diego Padres starter Michael King, in an effort to help shore up that area of their roster.
Yankees Linked to Michael King Reunion
King initially broke into the majors back in 2019 with the Yankees, and he quickly became a weapon for them out of the bullpen. Whether he was used in high-leverage situations or as a multi-inning reliever who could even make the occasional start, King was a key piece for New York over the next four seasons.
After the 2023 campaign, King was traded to the Padres as part of the Juan Soto blockbuster. He was promptly converted to a full-time starting pitcher, and he excelled in his first season, posting a 13-9 record with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 173.2 innings of work. Those strong numbers earned him a seventh-place finish in the National League Cy Young Award race.
King struggled to stay healthy in 2023, but he still posted a solid 3.44 ERA in 15 starts. While a return to the Padres could be in the cards, King is set to explore his options on the open market. According to Jim Bowden, one of those options could involve a return to the Yankees, as he believes the team is interested in bringing him back to town.
“It sounds like a reunion with former Yankees starter Michael King, who was traded in the Juan Soto swap, is a real possibility,” Bowden reported.
Should the Yankees Reunite with Michael King in Free Agency?
GettyThe Yankees reportedly could reunite with Padres’ pitcher Michael King in free agency
Regardless of where he is used, King is a weapon, and he is going to draw quite a bit of interest in free agency. The Yankees have a solid trio of starting pitchers in Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon, but the depth behind them is lacking. King could come in and work behind these guys, or he could shift back to the bullpen and be used as a jack-of-all-trades by manager Aaron Boone.
King’s market will be interesting this offseason. He’s set to turn 31 years old in May and is coming off a season where he struggled to stay on the mound. When he did pitch, though, he was as effective as ever, and some team will surely be eager to hand him a big-money deal. Whether or not that ends up being New York remains to be seen, but it looks like a reunion between these two sides could be in the cards over the coming weeks.
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