Baseball falls for transformed King making Yankees reunion a tough one

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Michael King‘s transformation from reliable reliever to dominant starter has caught the attention of his former team. As the San Diego Padres pitcher enters his final season before free agency, the New York Yankees are reportedly monitoring the situation with interest in potentially bringing back the right-hander who has blossomed into one of baseball’s elite arms.

King, 29, has emerged as a frontline starter since joining the Padres in the Juan Soto trade, posting a breakout 2024 campaign with a 13-9 record, 2.95 ERA, and 201 strikeouts across 173.2 innings.

“If you remove April, Michael may have been the clear-cut Cy Young winner,” Padres manager Mike Shildt told reporters recently. “He’s on a mission to go prove that he’s going to be an established, top-of-the-line, front-end rotation guy.”

The Yankees, who included King in the blockbuster deal that brought Soto to the Bronx, now find themselves potentially in the market to reacquire the pitcher who has elevated his game to new heights in San Diego.

New financial realities forcing Padres’ hands

Despite King’s emergence, San Diego’s ongoing payroll constraints have created a situation where the team is weighing its options with the pitcher. Padres General Manager A.J. Preller has acknowledged the financial reality facing the organization.

“He’s going to get paid a lot,” Preller said of the former Yankees pitcher in comments to The New York Post. “He’s really good.”

With King’s value soaring and his contract demands likely to approach those of recent top-tier pitchers who have secured deals exceeding $150 million, the Padres face a difficult decision. Sources with knowledge of the situation indicate San Diego has begun listening to trade offers rather than risk losing King for only draft pick compensation after the 2025 season.

Yankees’ rotation has a King-sized need

The Yankees have built a formidable starting rotation around Gerrit Cole and offseason acquisition Max Fried, but questions remain about their depth beyond those aces. With Marcus Stroman’s future uncertain beyond this season and durability concerns elsewhere in the rotation, New York has compelling reasons to pursue a reunion with King.

King’s $8 million salary for 2025 would also fit within the Yankees’ payroll structure, allowing them to add a potential difference-maker without compromising their financial flexibility for the upcoming playoff push.

Industry sources suggest the Padres would command a significant return in any potential trade, but the Yankees’ farm system has rebounded since the Soto deal, giving them the necessary prospect capital to engage in serious discussions.

Judge’s influence on King’s mindset

As King navigates his pivotal contract year, he’s drawing inspiration from former teammate Aaron Judge, who famously bet on himself during the 2022 season before securing a historic $360 million contract with the Yankees.

“I had the greatest role model ever in Judge,” King told The New York Post. “He never worried about how much money he would make—he focused on investing in the team, and by doing that, he invested in himself.”

That mindset has served the ex-Yankees star well in San Diego, where he’s earned praise not only for his on-field performance but also for his clubhouse leadership and willingness to mentor younger pitchers.

Free agency looms large

If a trade doesn’t materialize before the July deadline, King is positioned to be among the most sought-after free agents next winter. Industry analysts project three AL East teams—the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets—as potential landing spots for the right-hander.

“If you told me the Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees were all in on him next year, I wouldn’t be surprised,” noted baseball insider Joel Sherman.

King will enter free agency at age 30, traditionally considered the prime for starting pitchers. His trajectory places him alongside other top free-agent starters available next winter, including Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, and Zac Gallen.

A career transformed

King’s journey from multi-inning reliever with the Yankees to frontline starter with the Padres represents one of baseball’s most impressive developmental success stories in recent years.

After a challenging April in 2024, King posted a remarkable 2.42 ERA over his final 24 starts, cementing his status among the game’s elite pitchers. His ability to maintain velocity deep into games while featuring one of baseball’s most effective pitch arsenals has evaluators projecting continued success into his 30s.

The right-hander’s rise mirrors other late-blooming pitchers who have secured significant paydays in recent years, suggesting that King’s best seasons may still lie ahead.

As the 2025 season approaches, King’s future—whether it includes a return to pinstripes or a megadeal elsewhere—stands as one of baseball’s most compelling storylines to watch.

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