Yankees are open to a Michael King reunion that could serve multiple purposes

A possible reunion with Michael King is on the Yankees’ radar, and this could be a double whammy as they look to strengthen their rotation.

The Red Sox and Orioles are also competing for King, The Boston Globe reported, meaning teams that don’t land the free agent right-hander could face him in the AL East in the coming years.

King began his return to the Yankees late in the 2023 season before they signed him to headline the Juan Soto blockbuster with the Padres.

In the next two years, he posted a 3.10 ERA with 277 strikeouts in 247 innings over 46 games (45 starts), and although his 2025 season was limited by a nerve injury in his right shoulder, he declined the qualifying offer to hit the open market this offseason.

“Stud, not surprising [what he did with the Padres]manager Aaron Boone said last week during the winter meetings. “The thing about Kinger is he obviously has great stuff and a great arsenal. He’s very smart and has a very good understanding of things like that. It has allowed him to evolve as a pitcher, coupled with his confidence.

“That’s a powerful thing when you have things, the ability to learn and understand what you’re doing, and then the confidence to go and do it. So I’m not surprised he’s gone to that level. Obviously over the last year he’s had some injuries that slowed him down a little bit, but he’s really good when he’s there.”

Whether the Yankees would have the financial willingness to add both King and Cody Bellinger, their top offseason priority, remains to be seen. It’s possible their interest in King is part of a Plan B if they can’t land Bellinger, à la their pivot after missing out on Soto last winter.

The Yankees, who are also among the expected suitors for Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, have publicly indicated that adding a starting pitcher isn’t a must at this point — perhaps that’s just for leverage — after re-signing veteran swingman Ryan Yarbrough earlier this season. But they are in a tough spot with their rotation.

They already know they will start the year with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt on the injured list. The Yankees hope to have Rodón back in late April or early May, Cole in May or June and Schmidt possibly in the second half as both recuperate from their respective surgeries.

That means their current projected rotation to open the season is Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, Will Warren and Yarbrough. But that also assumes that each of these pitchers makes it through spring training without any problems, which is far from a guarantee, especially since Fried, Schlittler and Warren each have a heavy workload in their careers.

And yet they must also ensure that they remain flexible enough to free up spots for Rodón and Cole in the shorter term, while also not being able to fully rely on their returns.

“I would like to add a starter anyway [of Fried, Warren and Schlittler coming off heavy workloads]” said GM Brian Cashman last week. “The more the better. If we can find some inventory to expand our crew – but at the same time knowing that our crew will be there if they’re all healthy, so it has to be something that provides some flexibility – which could also include the worst-case scenario if everyone stays healthy, which is never the case, then you can push someone into the pen if you need to.

King, a Rhode Island native who attended Boston College, would prefer a return to the East Coast after the past two years in San Diego. He was well-liked in the Yankees clubhouse during his time in The Bronx, which spanned from being a high-leverage, multi-inning reliever to returning to a starting role.

And while that development helped the Yankees land Soto, it could also ultimately be a thorn in King’s side if King lands with an AL East foe.

“Bringing in a Yarbrough gives us that protection where he’s hopefully part of the rotation, but then collapses into the bullpen,” Boone said. “You never have enough [pitching]but I feel like we have some really talented options in those four, five, six, seven, eight as we get a little bit healthier.

“If we can add another starter along the way, that would obviously be great. But I feel like we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”