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The New York Yankees have an interesting recent history with the San Diego Padres as they head into the second game of their series on Tuesday.
The teams were blockbuster trade partners two winters ago when the Yankees acquired superstar slugger Juan Soto in exchange for right-handed pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez and Drew Thorpe, plus catcher Kyle Higashioka.
The Yankees enjoyed a highly productive season from Soto after that trade, which propelled them all the way to the World Series. But the Padres have enjoyed their return as well.
King has emerged as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball since landing in San Diego. He posted a 2.95 ERA in 30 starts last season and is off to a 2.09 ERA opening in his first seven starts for the Padres this year.
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As he continues to dominate in his final year of contract arbitration, he’s earned an impressive projection from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
“Two years ago, King was a reliever for the New York Yankees. Now he’s the best pitcher in the class,” Passan wrote, predicting that King would land a contract in excess of $100 million after this season.
King will have any number of suitors if he does reach free agency and the Yankees should rank among them, given their need for another effective starter. And amid their series with the Padres, the team has received some good news about King’s willingness to return to the Bronx.
“I mean, of course,” King said, when asked if he’d be open to re-signing with the Yankees, per Fireside Yankees. “I’ve got to focus on winning (Tuesday). … Hopefully by the end of it I can have all 30 teams calling me.”
Despite the Yankees’ decision to offload King just two years ago, it sounds like he has let go of any hard feelings. And that could lead to a long-term return to the mound in Yankee Stadium.
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