Michael King called Juan Soto “one of the top three players right now,” but the former Yankees right-hander was among the group signed by San Diego in December in exchange for the superstar outfielder. believes the new team believes in their team and the trade worked out.
“I'll keep praising you. [Padres general manager] I want to be confident in saying that I feel like AJ Preller and the Padres won the trade,” King said by phone from San Diego on Monday. “I feel like we acquired talent, but I was shocked to see the Yankees part with so many people. Of course, it's Juan Soto, so they have to give up a lot of baggage. But I was excited to see who would be coming to San Diego with me. I know they will contribute this year and for years to come.”
After a stellar final season in the Bronx, King was sent to the Padres along with longtime catcher Kyle Higashioka and a trio of young pitchers: Randy Vasquez, Johnny Brito, and promising Drew Thorpe.
That's what it took for the Yankees to acquire Soto, a 25-year-old star who provides the Yankees offense with a great left-handed hitter alongside Aaron Judge.
Soto and the Yankees agreed to a record $31.5 million contract in arbitration for his final season before becoming a free agent.
He will definitely bring a much-needed spark to the Yankees' offense, which struggled throughout last season due in part to Judge's toe injury.
However, by acquiring Soto and fellow outfielder Trent Grisham, the Yankees let go of much of their pitching depth, which was already deficient following other trades in recent seasons. I let go of the layer thickness.
And King is excited to see not only what he can do as a full-time member of the Padres' rotation, but also what Brito, Vazquez, and potentially Thorpe can do.
“I don't know Thorpe that well, but I've seen the video and you can tell by his stats that he's going to be a stallion,” King said. “And Brito and Vasquez's ceilings are through the roof. I've watched them grow over the past year, and their stuff is incredible.”
King has decided to transfer to San Diego, where he has already spent time working with the new coaching staff, part of a busy offseason for the 28-year-old.
King married in New York on December 16, just one week after being traded to the Padres.
Now, King is starting to get used to his new surroundings and is embracing the challenge.
“I'll probably get more chances to be a starter, and that's what I wanted to do,” he said, starting 19 games in parts of four seasons with the Yankees, including nine last season. said King.
He has been limited by various injuries, including a broken elbow that cut his 2022 season short, and has been plagued by limited innings, but those limitations should no longer exist with the Padres.
“I'm excited to start a new chapter in my career as a starter,” King said. “I've had conversations like that before. [the Padres] And that's what they expect from me and what I want them to expect from me. I plan to continue pitching even though I hurt my shoulder.”
King has further developed his four-pitch repertoire over the past two seasons, and the results continue, with a 2.29 ERA in 51 innings pitched in 2022 and a 2.75 ERA in 104/3 innings pitched a year ago. Recorded.
This load was King's highest since he pitched 161¹/₃ innings in the minors in 2018, so there will be question marks over his durability, but if all goes well, he will be playing against the Yankees. , will likely face Soto and Judge. The Yankees visited San Diego in May.
“They're going to be an exciting duo to watch all year long,” King said. “Soto will be able to protect Judge as a lefty in the lineup and they will be dynamic. It's always fun to play against the best players.”
