The Yankees knew what they were doing when they packaged a major trade with the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto last offseason. They sacrificed a significant haul, headlined by star pitcher Michael King, along with multiple promising young arms. It was a win-now move, and it worked—the Yankees reached the World Series with Soto playing a pivotal role.
MLB: Playoffs- Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres Denis Poroy-Imagn ImagesDenis Poroy-Imagn Images
But with Soto signing a monster deal with the Mets this offseason, the Yankees now find themselves down multiple high-upside players without their superstar slugger. That’s just the reality of high-stakes, championship-driven trades.
Padres Putting King Back on the Trade Block
One of the most notable pieces the Yankees sent to San Diego, Michael King, had a career year in 2024. He posted a 2.95 ERA over a career-high 173.2 innings, striking out 10.42 batters per nine while maintaining a 75.2% left-on-base rate and a 40.4% ground ball rate. He proved to be a legitimate force in a Padres rotation that was otherwise inconsistent.
However, the Padres appear open to dealing with him, as they are reportedly listening to trade offers. Given King’s breakout season and the fact that he is still under team control, he immediately becomes one of the most attractive trade chips on the market.
Could the Yankees or Mets Jump Back In?
The Yankees, having spent the past few weeks focused on trimming payroll and trying to improve their infield, might not be at the forefront of the King sweepstakes. But the Mets? That’s a different story.
With Steve Cohen and the Mets aggressively pushing for an elite rotation, prying King away from the Padres would not only be a major boost for their pitching staff but also deal a significant blow to a key National League rival. King would give the Mets another dominant arm alongside Kodai Senga and their other top starters.
Yankees Could Circle Back on Luis Arraez
While the Yankees likely won’t be in play for King, they could use this opportunity to re-engage the Padres on another potential deal—this time for infielder Luis Arraez. With San Diego willing to move multiple pieces, the Yankees could jump back into those discussions, especially since Arraez would provide an elite contact bat to help stabilize their infield.
The Yankees made a calculated gamble last year, and even though Soto’s tenure in the Bronx was brief, it nearly delivered a championship. Now, as the ripple effects of that trade continue, it’s possible that they—or their crosstown rivals—could end up reaping unexpected benefits from San Diego’s latest moves.
