Yankees reunion that every fan's been eyeing seems more possible after latest update

As the New York Yankees sift through their options to stabilize the starting rotation amid the question marks surrounding Carlos Rodón's availability in the early part of 2026, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt's recovery timetables from Tommy John (as well as what to expect from both hurlers once they return to the mound), and Luis Gil's follow-up to a shaky and injury-shortened 2025 campaign, they'll need to be careful.

The starting pitching market looks flush in what is an otherwise weak free-agent class. That means two things. First, teams will overpay for starters even more than they have in the past, since that's the best path to find an upgrade this winter. Second, history has taught us that not every stud-like starter can handle the Bronx.

We've seen the Yankees import small-market aces with high expectations only to be burned before. With that in mind, some preference should be given to a guy who has proven he can handle pitching in New York, and the latest update from Jim Bowden is making it seem like that's exactly what will happen, with a reunion with Michael King looking like a real possibility.

Michael King was the centerpiece of the Juan Soto deal, and now a reunion with the Yankees looks like a real possibility

King was the main get for the San Diego Padres two winters ago when they sent Juan Soto to the Bronx, and while you trade for a generational superstar 10 times out of 10, his loss was one that stung.

King had become a fan favorite, though at the time his role was different. For most of his Yankees tenure, he was a versatile multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen. However, in his final year in pinstripes, he started to show signs of what he would become.

The Yankees once again tried him in the rotation, and this time it seemed things had begun to click. King made nine starts and logged 40 1/3 innings as a starter, posting a 2.23 ERA and recording 51 Ks to just nine walks.

Going to San Diego, he got the opportunity to start full time and turned in an ace-like performance in 2024, tossing 173 2/3 frames to the tune of a 2.95 ERA. That performance kick-started rumors that he could be a top target in free agency all the way back at the beginning of the 2025 season.

King doesn't come without risk. A thoracic nerve issue in the right-hander's throwing shoulder and then a balky left knee limited him to just 73 1/3 innings this year, but in that time he was still a top-of-the-rotation arm with a 3.44 ERA and a solid 9.33 K/9.

Those health issues are something to watch, but they also serve to hold down his price tag. While most of the top arms like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Dylan Cease are projected to land deals in excess of $150 million, King is predicted to make half of that despite being every bit as good as those aces when healthy.

And, as Yankees fans know, he comes with the certainty that he can handle the New York spotlight, while those other free agents, as well as top trade candidates like Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez of the Minnesota Twins, don't come with the same certainty.

King grew up on the east coast, and seeing as he already has experience with the organization, it seems like there's some real fire to this smoke. If a deal does come to fruition, it will be one that should have the fans ecstatic, and the rotation, if healthy, looking like one of the very best in baseball.