Was Gerrit Cole’s friendship with King behind Juan Soto trade delay?

In September of this year, Gerrit Cole commended Michael King‘s outstanding pitching abilities, stating, “Michael’s got every trait you want out of a starter.” The Yankees ace shares a special bond with the newest rotation member. Apparently, his affection for King reportedly posed an initial hurdle for the Yankees, who dithered before agreeing to trade him for Juan Soto.

Recently, ex-New York Yankees pitching sensation Michael King celebrated his wedding, eliciting joy from both the Yankees fanbase and his fellow Bronx Bombers teammates. The marriage celebration provided a glimpse of Cole’s apparent longing for his dear friend, a sentiment affirmed by his unmistakable grin. Since then, the Yankees fanbase has been buzzing with excitement over the heartfelt moment.

The relationship between Gerrit Cole and King

Yankees pitchers Gerrit Cole and Michael King — clarkeschmidt/ insta

Notable figures from the squad, including Aaron Judge, Luke Voit, and others, were part of King’s wedding party. However, it was Gerrit Cole, who, true to his comedic reputation, took center stage with his entertaining antics during the celebration.

After being traded to the San Diego Padres clubhouse, King experienced a change of scenery, but this didn’t hinder him from enjoying a joyous reunion with his former teammates. Notably, Gerrit Cole played a significant role in the ceremony, leaving a memorable impression.

In the recently surfaced photo from the ceremony, notable players such as Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Clay Holmes, DJ LeMahieu, Chad Green, Luke Voit, and Jameson Taillon were visibly present to support the groom. Notably, Gerrit Cole took the opportunity to inject a dose of humor into the joyful occasion.

An absolute squad was in attendance for Michael King’s wedding pic.twitter.com/UE9UnnEhUz
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) December 17, 2023

The Yankees ace had the rest of the group in stitches with a hilariously goofy grin on his face, bearing a striking resemblance to an unmistakably Jim Carrey-like expression.

Michael King tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Sheila Hill, whom he had been engaged to since December of the previous year. On December 16, they exchanged vows in the presence of friends and family. Despite Gerrit Cole’s playful demeanor at the ceremony, evident in the photo, he wasn’t particularly pleased about King’s involuntary departure from the team.