Michael King keeps the door open for his Yankees reunion while manager Boone admits to his beast mode transformation.
When Michael King strides to the Yankee Stadium mound Tuesday evening wearing Padres colors, he’ll deliver more than just pitches to his former club—he’ll showcase precisely what they sacrificed in pursuit of a championship.
The 29-year-old has blossomed into one of baseball’s most compelling transformation stories since the 2023-24 offseason, evolving from versatile reliever to legitimate frontline starter with San Diego. As his breakthrough continues into 2025, Michael King subtly indicated Monday that a future reunion with New York isn’t entirely out of consideration.
“I mean, of course, once you get to free agency, that’s what I’ll start thinking about… I’ve got to focus on winning today… hopefully, by the end of it, I can have all 30 teams calling me,” Michael King said Monday.
While far from a commitment, his message carried a clear subtext: the Yankees could potentially reacquire what they reluctantly surrendered.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone reciprocated with a confirmation of his interest and highlighted his transformation to “a beast” in recent years.
Relief specialist to rotation cornerstone
Padres
Michael King spent five partial seasons in pinstripes, establishing himself as a bullpen stalwart without securing a permanent rotation spot. His trajectory shifted dramatically in late 2023 when the injury-plagued Yankees granted him starting opportunities down the stretch. He responded impressively—posting a 1.88 ERA across eight late-season starts—signaling readiness for expanded responsibilities.
“Michael’s got every trait you want out of a starter,” Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ ace and 2023 AL Cy Young winner, said that year. “The preparation, command, off-speed, the fastball… Obviously, he can dominate. You have to do it every week. You have to do it 1 1⁄2 times a week for six months.”
Interview with @Padres right-hander Michael King, a former Yankee who has made the successful transition from being a reliever to a starting pitcher
That final component—durability—represented King’s remaining question mark. He’s since answered emphatically. During 2024, his first complete season as a starter, Michael King compiled a 13-9 record with a 2.95 ERA across 30 starts. His momentum has accelerated in 2025, entering Tuesday’s appearance at 4-1 with an impressive 2.09 ERA through seven outings.
“It’s reassuring,” Michael King reflected on his development. “I knew in ’20 and ’21 when I got a couple of starts that I was not good enough to be a starter… I had a sinker, and that’s it.”
The trade that haunts New York
NYP
Michael King headlined the Yankees’ blockbuster deal with San Diego for Juan Soto during the 2023 Winter Meetings. The transaction, which also sent Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Kyle Higashioka to California, brought superstar outfielder Soto and Trent Grisham to the Bronx.
Yankees decision-makers reportedly hesitated to include King. Manager Aaron Boone later acknowledged, “In a lot of ways, [we were] trying to keep Michael King out of the deal.” But Padres GM A.J. Preller remained insistent.
“He’s become everything you would have hoped for,” Boone said Monday. “And that he kind of showed us here through dominating in the pen to finally getting in the rotation. Now he’s gone and done it over a full season, and now done it with the volume, too… I can’t say I’m surprised.”
Bronx return remains possible
King, a Rhode Island native who grew up supporting the Yankees, hasn’t dismissed reconnecting with New York. When questioned about potentially returning via free agency, he addressed the possibility openly—while emphasizing his present commitment to San Diego’s success.
“I know that I was at least getting treated like I was going to come in as a starter in 2024 had the trade not happened,” Michael King said. “But you have no idea. They have a ton of talent over there that has emerged in Luis Gil and Clarke and obviously going out and getting [Max] Fried. So you have no idea, but I’m very happy with where I’m at.”
This blend of candor and perspective has established Michael King as a respected voice throughout baseball circles. His approachable personality, self-awareness, and determination combine to make him valuable both on and off the field.
Yankees’ current rotation vs. Michael King’s trajectory
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While Michael King excels on the West Coast, the Yankees have relied heavily on Max Fried—last winter’s premier free-agent arm—to anchor their pitching staff. Fried has delivered remarkably, posting a perfect 6-0 record with a minuscule 1.01 ERA. However, the team remains vulnerable when he’s not pitching, evidenced by their 7-0 record in his starts compared to 12-16 otherwise.
Rodon has shown flashes of brilliance, and Schmidt continues developing. Nevertheless, rotation depth has repeatedly faced challenges, with the bullpen absorbing increased workloads stemming from abbreviated starter outings.
Against this backdrop, Michael King’s consistency and efficiency as a starter appear increasingly appealing, particularly with free agency approaching after the 2025 campaign.
King’s enduring Yankees connection
Despite making just 12 career starts in pinstripes, Michael King left a meaningful impression. He was popular among teammates and benefited significantly from Cole’s extensive mentorship.
His transformation into a frontline starter represents not merely personal achievement but validation of his long-held self-belief.
Would he consider returning?
He acknowledged that of course, he would consider returning, explaining that he grew up loving the Yankees and that would always be part of him.
For now, he focuses on defeating his former teammates. But should the Yankees explore pitching reinforcements next winter, they needn’t look far. Michael King has already demonstrated everything they require—and he’s keeping communication channels open.
A digital technocrat-turned-baseball buff, Sara is an ardent follower of the New York Yankees. Born and brought up in New York City, she is a regular to games since she was a kid. Despite working as media strategist, baseball is her first love. She has been covering baseball games in the city as well as MLB and MiLB games involving the Yankees, the Mets, and their minor affiliates as a freelancer for different web and media publications. She works as a lead author for the Yankees-centered PinstripesNation since its very inception.
