The Yankees are on the hunt for a game-changing addition following a challenging 2023 season, setting their sights on Juan Soto, a left-handed outfielder known for his powerful hitting. This highly sought-after player—who happens to be a three-time All-Star—currently plays for the San Diego Padres. In an interesting twist, the Padres are looking to create salary relief as they approach the final season with this talented outfielder before he becomes a free agent.
The other players included in the rumored trade packages seem to be a good fit for each other. This is because the Yankees have a roster of young, promising pitchers, which aligns with the Padres’ rebuilding efforts to strengthen a rotation that is set to lose approximately 700 innings.
According to several reports, including those from NJ Advance Media, San Diego has expressed interest in acquiring pitchers Michael King and Clarke Schmidt, along with five other players, including highly touted pitching prospect Drew Thorpe. However, reports indicate that the Yankees are hesitant to part with all of these players, and are particularly reluctant to include King and Thorpe in the potential trade.
The details of the Yankees’ offer remain unclear, but there is a belief that a potential framework for a deal exists, as reported by Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media. The Yankees appear determined and have no intention of backing down in negotiations. On December 1, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that the Yankees’ counteroffer did not receive a favorable response from the Padres.
Calculations Behind the Yankees’ King Trade
Certainly, the Yankees are aware that acquiring Soto from the Padres will require parting with several valuable assets. However, reports suggest that trading both King and Thorpe for a player on a short-term deal has been firmly ruled out as an option.
King demonstrated his potential as a starting pitcher last season after transitioning from a relief role, posting an impressive 2.23 ERA over 40 1/3 innings in his new role. The 28-year-old has stood out significantly as a reliever in recent years, posting a 2.88 ERA and an impressive 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings from 2021 to 2023. He is also under contract through 2026. As for Schmidt, 27, he played his first full season in the majors last year, posting a 4.64 ERA and a 8.4 K/9 rate over 159 innings. He won’t be eligible for free agency until 2028.
Based on King’s performance in the latter part of the 2023 season, the right-handed pitcher appears poised to play a key role in the Yankees’ starting rotation. This is particularly noteworthy given the uncertainties surrounding the team’s pitching staff. Although King has long been a valuable asset in manager Aaron Boone’s pitching strategy—as a versatile and effective multi-inning reliever—he has skillfully adapted to the role of a starting pitcher, seamlessly embracing the opportunity to pitch every five days toward the end of the recent season.
Boone said Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in Nashville that he believed the player had shown growth over the past two years and proven his ability to perform in a starting role. According to Boone, the player demonstrated his pitching prowess in the middle and late innings and utilized a full range of pitches toward the end of the season. Boone also praised the player’s exceptional command of his fastball, emphasizing the effectiveness of having command on both sides of the plate with both two-seam and four-seam fastballs, complemented by his secondary pitches. In Boone’s view, the player possesses all the attributes necessary to become a highly skilled starting pitcher.
The question of whether his arm can withstand the demands of a full season as a starter remains to be seen. Two summers ago, King suffered a major elbow injury that cut his season short. However, the Yankees see him as a potential No. 2 or No. 3 starter, behind ace Gerrit Cole, as long as he can overcome any durability concerns.
Why the Yankees Are Playing a Game of Give-and-Take With a Prospect Pitcher
At the age of 23, Thorpe advanced to Double-A during the previous season, posting impressive stats with a 2.52 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and a staggering 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings over 139 1/3 innings across two levels. Despite his rapid rise to the Major Leagues, Baseball America ranked him as the Yankees’ seventh-best prospect, while MLB Pipeline ranked him as the fifth-best prospect. In addition, he earned the distinction of being the second-best pitching prospect in the organization, behind only Chase Hampton, according to Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects list for 2024.
Boone noted that the player had an excellent year and possesses an impressive changeup. According to Boone, the term “pitching ability” aptly describes the player, since he doesn’t rely on dominating with his fastball but rather showcases a special changeup. Boone added that the fastball gains effectiveness thanks to the player’s pitching ability, which has contributed to his very successful season.
According to Baseball America, Thorpe’s raw stuff may not immediately catch the eye, but his performance speaks for itself. They highlighted his ability to throw strikes, attributing to him the potential to be a second-tier starter. There’s a chance his ceiling could rise if he can increase the velocity of his fastball or make slight adjustments to one of his breaking or cutting pitches.
Is it justified for the Yankees to be cautious about parting ways with their young pitchers? (According to Baseball Reference, Soto has a career WAR of 28.6, complemented by a .284 batting average and an OPS of .946, including 160 home runs and 483 RBIs. His consistent performance has resulted in an OPS+ of 157 over six seasons. Last year, he posted a .275/.410/.519 batting line, contributing 35 home runs and 109 RBIs.)
Currently, King and Schmidt hold spots in the rotation, providing value within a group that faces uncertainties beyond Gerrit Cole. According to observations by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on Monday night, a possible resolution to the standoff involving Soto could involve the Yankees opening negotiations by offering one of these two pitchers and proceeding accordingly. It’s conceivable that a trade centered on Schmidt—who posted a 4.64 ERA in his first full season in the Yankees’ rotation—could also be a viable option.
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