Since being traded to San Diego prior to the 2024 season, Michael King has thrived as a starting pitcher for the Padres.
King, who came up in the Yankees’ organization, suffered an elbow fracture in 2022 that required season ending surgery. But he put up solid numbers in 2023 that made him an important piece of the package New York sent to the Padres in exchange for Juan Soto.
Since then, King has shown a lot of upside as he approaches free agency at the completion of the 2025 season.
“I was skeptical he could make it work, and now he looks like he’s a year away from $100 million [or more],” one executive said to The Athletic.
King was one of the players the Yankees shipped to the Padres last winter in the seven-player blockbuster trade for Soto. He spent three years in the Bronx as a reliever for the Yankees before his trade to San Diego, where he was transitioned into a starter.
In 33 starts for San Diego in 2024, King put up a 2.95 ERA over 173.2 innings pitched.
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Bridget Hyland may be reached at [email protected].
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