🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The New York Yankees have as much talent as any team in baseball, but some injuries have hurt them this year.
Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt both underwent season-ending elbow surgery this year. While they are expected to make a full recovery, it’s hard to accurately predict how a big league pitcher will respond to this kind of surgery.
With that in mind, it wouldn’t hurt the Yankees to go after a pitcher in free agency.
MLB’s Mark Feinsand recently listed the Yankees as a potential landing spot for San Diego Padres ace Michael King. King played with the Yankees from 2019 until 2023. Spotrac projects the righty to sign for $97 million in free agency this offseason.
Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
“King has quietly emerged as one of the game’s top starters since making the move from the bullpen, posting a 2.92 ERA in his two seasons in the Padres’ rotation,” Feinsand wrote. “The right-hander has been limited to 11 starts this season due to a nerve impingement near his shoulder, but assuming he returns and shows that he’s healthy, King — who is expected to decline his $15 million mutual option to become a free agent — should be one of the most sought-after arms during the offseason.”
Bringing King back to the Bronx would be a dream come true for the Yankees. New York traded him away in the Juan Soto deal, and he’s been incredible in a Padres uniform.
Now that he’s pitching at his best, the Yankees could bring him back to town and use him as a key piece of their next World Series push. It makes sense for both sides.
More MLB: Padres Urged To Trade For Orioles Star After Latest Samuel Basallo News