Yankees could bring back star pitcher they traded for Juan Soto
Of all the names sent packing, Michael King now stands out as the one who might make the Yankees wonder: “Did we give up too much?”
King was already valuable in New York, but since joining the Padres, he hasn’t just taken a step forward—he’s sprinted into ace territory. A 2.95 ERA last year turned heads. A 2.42 ERA this year is turning stomachs, especially in the Bronx.
Here’s where the story starts to twist. Despite being part of the Padres’ rotation now, King could soon be back on the market. He and San Diego have a $15 million mutual option for 2026, but let’s be honest—that’s couch change compared to what he could command on the open market.
And timing might work in the Yankees’ favor. Once the World Series wraps up, King might be eligible to hit free agency. Unlike last time, the Yankees wouldn’t need to empty the farm system to get him—they’d just need to open the vault.
There’s another card in the Yankees’ deck: geography. According to Jon Heyman, King, a Rhode Island native, has strong East Coast ties. His wife’s from New Jersey. They lived in Manhattan. In a sport where lifestyle can be as persuasive as dollar signs, that matters.
Bobby Milone even highlighted Heyman’s words on X: “King, an East Coast guy… is a great candidate to return to the Yankees as a free agent.”
