The New York Yankees signed Max Fried last offseason and have a promising rotation slated to take the field next season. However, the Yankees could add even more to the group this winter.
Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt could all miss time to start the year, but when they return the Yankees will have a very strong rotation. The Yankees also have talented, young pitcher Cam Schlittler at their disposal. However, adding to their already strong rotation could set them up to make another run at the World Series.
Last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers rode dominant pitching to another World Series. FanSided’s Chris Landers predicted the Yankees would sign Michael King to add to their group of Cole, Fried, Rodón, Schliitler and Luis Gil.
“King has ace upside when he’s healthy, but his limited track record and recent injury concerns could keep him in New York’s price range,” wrote Landers. “Plus, King came up in the Yankees’ system — he was the centerpiece of the Juan Soto trade, remember — and could view a short-term stop in New York as the best way to rebuild his value and hit the market again after a strong season or two.”
King was shipped off to the San Diego Padres when the Yankees acquired Juan Soto. However, it was a move that perhaps King needed. With the Yankees, King was stuck in a swingman role, making only 19 starts in 115 games. The Yankees never let him serve as a full-time starter, but the Padres changed that.
In his first year as a starter, 2024, he had a 2.95 ERA. He did make one relief appearance, but it came in South Korea preceding six off-days for the Padres. Last season, he had a 3.44 ERA in 15 starts. He dealt with injuries and did not have a great season, but the Yankees could plug him into the rotation to start the year, a role he never had in his first stint with the team.
Fried, King, Schlittler and Gil could be the Yankees’ top four starters to begin the year. When Cole, Schmidt and Rodón are healthy, however, the team will have to make some tough decisions on who sticks.
More MLB: Padres Star Predicted To Sign Huge 6-Year, $168 Million Deal With Red Sox