The New York Yankees are reportedly pursuing a surprising reunion with a familiar face: right-handed starter Michael King. According to insiders like The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, a deal to bring the former Yankee back is considered “a real possibility” and a logical solution to the team’s immediate rotation crisis.
King (the main character in this reunion rumor) was famously the headliner of the package the Yankees sent to the San Diego Padres two years ago to acquire superstars Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. Now a free agent, the Yankees appear eager to bring the right-hander back to the Bronx.
Why the Reunion is a “Game-Changer”
The potential reunion of King and the Yankees is driven by the club’s desperate need for durable, mid-rotation innings due to significant injuries:
- Injury Crisis: Both Yankees aces, Gerrit Cole (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and Carlos Rodón (elbow surgery), are expected to miss the beginning of the 2026 season.
- The King of 2024: After being traded, King flourished as a full-time starter for the Padres in 2024. He posted a fantastic 2.95 ERA across $173.2$ innings and finished seventh in the NL Cy Young Award voting. This proved his ability to handle a full starter workload.
- Familiarity and Fit: Yankees management and the clubhouse are highly familiar with King, who spent his first five big-league seasons with the organization (2019-2023). This familiarity makes him a low-risk signing despite his injury-shortened 2025 season (shoulder and knee inflammation).
- The Price Tag: Unlike top free agents like Framber Valdez, King is projected to command a mid-term contract (e.g., four years, $80 million) that allows the Yankees to invest heavily in the position without a nine-figure commitment, which fits their financial plan.
The Contract Situation
King, who showed elite promise even during his time as a multi-inning reliever for the Yankees, is currently a free agent after receiving—and being expected to decline—the Qualifying Offer from the Padres.
Insider reports suggest the Yankees will be heavily involved in the bidding, as the need for stability behind new ace Max Fried is paramount. For the Yankees, bringing back the pitcher they reluctantly traded away for Soto would be both a practical and sentimental victory.
The Yankees are clearly focused on pitching, but their biggest target remains Juan Soto‘s replacement. Would you like the latest news on the team’s continued pursuit of Cody Bellinger to fill the outfield gap?
