The New York Yankees have not made any major splashes in free agency yet, but have reportedly been showing interest in many free agents.
Cody Bellinger has been the name most linked to the Yankees, but they are reportedly also interested in a reunion with Michael King. According to Yankees insider Bryan Hoch, the Yankees’ rumored interest in King is real.
“There’s real interest,” Hoch wrote on Monday. “The qualifying offer is inconvenient, but it wouldn’t necessarily stop them from signing him. They lost a compensation pick last year for signing Max Fried and hardly blinked about it.”
King started his big league career with the Yankees, but never got a chance to be a full-time starter with the team. He served in a swingman role, but was mostly used as a reliever. In 115 games for the Yankees, he started 19 and had a 3.38 ERA. He was included in the trade to bring Juan Soto to the Bronx.
With the San Diego Padres, King was used as a starter and thrived in his first year in the role. He had a 2.95 ERA in 31 games, making 30 starts. The only game he did not start was when the Padres opened the season in Seoul. He appeared as a reliever preceding multiple off days.
Last season, King dealt with injuries and made just 15 starts. He had a 3.44 ERA. Despite trading him away, Hoch noted that King is still respected in the organization, making a reunion possible.
“Let me also say here, you won’t find a person in the Yankees’ organization with a negative thing to say about King,” wrote Hoch. “They loved him — he’s a bulldog and he fits their current needs in so many ways. They had to give King up to bring in Juan Soto, and it was a price worth paying to get to a World Series, even with how it all turned out.”
The Yankees are expected to be without Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón to start the year. King could be a great addition while they recover, but when they are both back, one of their starters would need to move to the bullpen.
More MLB: Mets Agree to Sign Braves World Series Champion After Trading Brandon Nimmo: Report
