The Yankees are considering bringing back Michael King, which could be a significant move as they aim to bolster their rotation.
According to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox and Orioles are also interested in King, meaning any team that doesn’t sign him might have to face him in the AL East for a while.
King made his return as a starter for the Yankees towards the end of the 2023 season, later becoming a key figure in the Juan Soto trade with the Padres.
In the following two years, he recorded a 3.10 ERA, striking out 277 over 247 innings across 46 games, mostly as a starter. Though his 2025 season was hindered by nerve damage in his right shoulder, he opted to decline a qualifying offer and explore free agency this offseason.
Manager Aaron Boone commented at last week’s winter meetings, saying, “Stud, I’m not surprised. What he did with the Padres!” He noted King’s intelligence and ability to grow as a pitcher, which contributed to his boost in confidence.
There’s uncertainty around whether the Yankees can afford both King and Cody Bellinger, their primary offseason targets. After missing out on Soto last winter, their interest in King might be a backup plan if they cannot land Bellinger.
Additionally, the Yankees are reportedly looking at Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai. However, after re-signing veteran Ryan Yarbrough earlier in the offseason, they’ve signaled that adding another starting pitcher isn’t an immediate necessity, which feels a bit like strategy, maybe for leverage. Still, they face a challenging situation with their rotation.
With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clark Schmidt starting the season on injured reserve, the Yankees expect Rodon back by late April or early May, Cole possibly by late May or June, and Schmidt might return in the second half as he recovers from surgery.
This leaves them with an opening-day rotation likely consisting of Max Fried, Cam Schrittler, Lewis Gil, Will Warren, and Yarbrough. But it heavily depends on everyone getting through spring training without issues, which is, of course, not a given, especially with Fried, Schrittler, and Warren having had career-high workloads last season.
While they need to keep options open for Rodon and Cole’s short-term return, relying solely on their comeback isn’t realistic.
General Manager Brian Cashman expressed the need for another starter, remarking, “If we can find inventory to add to the crew, but… it has to be something that gives us some flexibility.” This means they may need to look at the worst-case scenario where every pitcher is healthy, which isn’t the case currently.
A Rhode Island native and Boston University alum, King is thought to prefer a return to the East Coast after his two-year stint in San Diego. He was well-regarded in the Yankees’ clubhouse during his previous time in New York, where he fluctuated between high-leverage relief roles and starting.
While this helped the Yankees secure Soto, it could prove to be a challenge again if King signs with another AL East team.
Boone noted, “Bringing in Yarbrough gives us that protection if he’s part of the rotation but also falls into the bullpen. It’s never enough pitching, but as we get healthier, I think there are really talented options in the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 spots.”
He added, “If we can add another starter down the line, that would be ideal, but we feel like we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”
