Former Yankees right-hander Michael King, now with the San Diego Padres following the trade for superstar outfielder Juan Soto in December, believes the Padres got the upper hand in the deal. King expressed his confidence in the Padres’ victory in the trade, emphasizing the talent they acquired in exchange for Soto.
King, along with catcher Kyle Higashioka and pitchers Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and prospect Drew Thorpe, was part of the package sent to the Padres in return for Juan Soto. This significant trade brought the 25-year-old star to the Yankees, providing their offense with a powerful left-handed bat alongside Aaron Judge.
Soto and the Yankees reached a record-breaking $31.5 million agreement in his final arbitration season before he becomes a free agent. His presence is expected to invigorate a Yankees offense that faced challenges during the previous season, partly due to Judge’s toe injury.
However, acquiring Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham meant the Yankees had to part ways with a substantial portion of their pitching depth, which had already been depleted due to previous trades in recent seasons. King is enthusiastic about the potential of not only his own contributions to the Padres’ rotation but also those of Brito, Vasquez, and possibly Thorpe.
While King’s move to San Diego marked a busy offseason for the 28-year-old, who also got married shortly after the trade, he is now settling into his new role and is eager to embrace the challenges ahead. He looks forward to the opportunity to be a full-time starting pitcher, a role he has aspired to fulfill. King’s goal is to pitch with determination and prove himself as he enters this new phase of his career.
Over the past two seasons, King has developed a diverse four-pitch repertoire, leading to successful results with a 2.29 ERA in 51 innings in 2022 and a 2.75 ERA in 104 ²/₃ innings in the previous year. While durability may be a concern due to his increased workload, King is excited about the prospect of facing the Yankees, including Soto and Judge, when they visit San Diego in May.
The Yankees are expected to benefit from the dynamic duo of Soto and Judge in their lineup, creating an exciting season for fans and providing tough challenges for opposing pitchers.