When the Yankees pulled off the blockbuster Juan Soto trade last offseason, they knew it would sting. The cost? A slew of promising arms and a fan-favorite catcher, most notably Michael King, who had just begun transitioning into a full-time starter after years of bullpen brilliance in the Bronx.<\/p>
Fast forward to now, and whether that gamble paid off is open to individual interpretation. But in the short term, it did work out at least for the Yankees. Soto mashed and the Yankees reached the World Series for the first time since 2009, and the all-in push looked justified on paper. But with Soto now headlining the Mets’ outfield on a jaw-dropping $765 million contract and King emerging as a bona fide ace in San Diego, the long-term consequences of that deal are starting to feel a little heavier.<\/p>
Among the players shipped out, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, Kyle Higashioka, and top prospect Drew Thorpe, it’s King who’s making the Yankees squirm the most. The right-hander followed up a 2.95 ERA in 2024 with an even sharper 2.42 mark so far this year, firmly establishing himself as a top-of-the-rotation presence.<\/p>