After a disastrous 2023 campaign, the New York Yankees are all up for improvements. For that, the former champions want to utilize the off-season to add value to the squad. Their release of multiple players plus new signings show the same. However, their pursuit of Juan Soto is yet to be completed due to complexities, which have gotten bigger, according to the latest report.

Notably, the San Diego Padres’ star player has been on the radar of New York for quite a time. This is why they quickly started the talks when the Padres proposed the player for a possible trade. But the demands from San Diego changed the course, resulting in a stalemate. Many associated it with Bronx love for the players. However, that is not all true, and the 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole could be the man behind this move. How so?

Is Gerrit Cole’s Favor for Michael King the Primary Cause for Yankees-Padres Stalemate?

Juan Soto sweepstakes have taken over the space in the last few days because of the stalemate between the New York and the San Diego. Notably, it all happened after the Padres asked for Michael King, Clarke Schmidt, and some prospects to be included in the trade deal. But the Yankees declined it. However, it seems Gerrit Cole had an indirect role in this too.

According to the New York Post, Cole is favorable towards King, who is expected to be the one to be traded for the Juan Soto deal. The Post shared, “It’s very hard to see them relenting on both pitchers — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who has a big voice in the organization, is said to especially love King — so one side or the other would need to compromise or cave quite a bit to forge a quick deal.”

This update hints toward Cole’s love for King, as he considers him a great pitcher. This might have forced the Yankees to drop the talks, which is huge. Yet, the resolution for the 33-year-old doesn’t appear to be clear or straightforward.

Notably, he has voiced for the betterment of the Yankees. But his indirect impact points towards something else. Will he change it to make the Juan Soto deal happen? If yes, would it be too late, as multiple teams have already placed their offers, complicating the situation for the Yanks?

What’s Next for the Yankees, the Padres and Juan Soto?

The situation might have gone out of control of the New York Yankees, as multiple teams have joined in the Juan Soto trade conversations with offers. This has added to the options for the Padres which they can use to put the 25-year-old player out of the reach of New York. The update on Gerrit Cole’s possible role in complicating the trade deal has further added to the case. Even if Cole looks to change it with an agreement with King’s inclusion in the trade deal, this might still not work for them.

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