In a peculiar turn of events, Michael King, a former pitcher for the New York Yankees, learned of his trade to the San Diego Padres in an unconventional way while on a date with his fiancée. The trade, which involved the acquisition of outfielder Juan Soto, took place without King having access to a popular MLB channel at the crucial moment.
Former Yankees Pitcher Learns of Juan Soto’s Trade in a Different Way
The peculiar incident was recounted by ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcaster Karl Ravech on the “Baseball Tonight” podcast with Buster Olney. Ravech, who has a close relationship with King’s father, described the situation as “strange” and shed light on the unexpected circumstances surrounding the revelation.
“But last night he was at the Rockettes, which is something he and his fiancée decided to do,” Ravech said. “He doesn’t have MLB TV, so he had to call his agent and watch MLB TV on his agent’s phone. It was weird. I mean, it’s typical of someone who doesn’t necessarily have that tool right away, so he can sit there and watch—and he wasn’t sitting there watching.”
On the night of the exchange, Michael King He attended a Rockettes show with his future wife, a decision they had made for their date night. Since he didn’t have access to MLB TV, King had to watch the game on his agent’s phone. The scene captured the unexpected and somewhat comical nature of the situation and highlighted how close professional athletes are to their fans.
Ravech highlighted the uniqueness of the situation: “He doesn’t have MLB TV, so he had to talk to his agent on the phone and watch MLB TV on his agent’s phone. It was strange. I mean, that’s typical of someone who doesn’t necessarily have that tool right away, so he can sit there and watch—but he wasn’t sitting there watching.”
Over the course of the evening, King received three phone calls, each of which played a crucial role in shaping his immediate future. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Padres general manager AJ Preller, along with Yankees manager Aaron Boone, reached out to inform King of the trade. Boone’s call, in particular, left an “incredible” impression on King, adding a personal touch to the unexpected turn of events.
As part of the trade, King, 28, known for his success as a starter late in the season with a 2.23 ERA and 51 strikeouts in nine starts, became a key asset for the Padres. Along with King, the Yankees also sent pitchers Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Drew Thrope to the Padres in exchange for Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham.
Ravech revealed that King will get married on December 16, which will give him the opportunity to say goodbye to his former teammates in person. The upcoming wedding adds a touching element to the story, marking a transition not only in King’s professional career but also in his personal life.
In the world of professional sports, where transactions are typically announced through formal channels, King’s story adds a touch of humanity, showing that even elite athletes can learn of life-changing events in the most unexpected and personal ways.
