All Eyes on Ex-Yankee Michael King to Make Juan Soto Trade Pay Off for Padres

Following the disheartening 2023 season, the Bronx Bombers identified the gap in their pitching segment, leading them to opt for the best pitchers available. While they made sure to revamp their team, it cost them to lose a few iconic players in their troop. At the same time, Padres lost their star player, whose void is expected to fill by Michael King. Will he manage to do so?

The 2023 off-season offered enough headline-making instances, and Juan Soto’s blockbuster deal can be considered among the major ones. In order to include the Dominican ace Juan Soto, the Pinstripes traded some of their biggest strengths, like Michael King. Now, as he is tying his shoelaces to become the biggest challenge for his opponents, expectations remain sky high.

The Pinstripes picked Juan Soto over Michael King

The New York Yankees have been pursuing one of the best sluggers for months, and finally, around the beginning of the off-season, they got a ray of hope under their shade. As a part of the seven-player trade, Juan Soto became a part of the Yankees along with outfielder Trent Grisham in exchange for five players, including Michael King.

On the other hand, Michael King, who was coming off a right elbow fracture, ended his 2022 season. However, he posted a 1.88 ERA and a 31.4% strikeout rate, marking his position among the best pitchers of the season. Despite that, his team was uncertain about his consistency, considering his injury aspect, prompting them to choose Juan Soto over Michael King.

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Following the trade that landed him in the San Diego Padres, King was initially affected by the team’s decisio. But soon after, he identified the better opportunities awaiting him on the new team. Regarding the same, he stated, “I was sad. Then I started to talk to people about the opportunity, and it’s just so much better for my career in terms of development because I want to establish myself as a starter.”

On a similar note, the Padres GM A. J. Preller said, “When you look at the price of pitching now, I think for us King stood out because he was dominant in a pen role last year.” When talking about the pitcher from his own point of view, the ex-Yankee gave away his goal for the 2024 season.

Michael King: Not a “goal-oriented guy” but has certainly set a goal this year

Michael King is about to debut as a Padre in the 2024 Spring Training and is all set to challenge his opponents with a refined enthusiasm. When Sam Levitt, the host on 97.3 The Fan and the Padres Radio Network, asked about the same, the pitcher confidently conveyed his mindset.

He stated, “I am not a huge goal oriented guy. But innings count is my goal this year. I put the goal as 180 innings on my season this year, and I think that if I’m able to get 180 innings, it means that I’m putting together some successful starts and going deep in the game saving the bullpen.” Indeed, that’s what a starter brings to a team’s rotation.

Read More: Here’s Why Both the Yankees and Padres Need a Juan Soto Trade, Per Top MLB Insider

While he is seemingly decked up to face the upcoming challenges as a starter, Michael King has raised the expectations of his team, as well as the Padres’ fans, to see him spinning his magic wand.