Michael King Draws Intense Bidding War: Mets and Yankees Poised to Battle Over Four-Year Deal

You know, in the whirlwind world of free agency, Michael King is steadily emerging as the frontrunner to ink the next big contract among starting pitchers. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com puts his odds pretty high—word is, King’s about to lock down a solid four-year deal. And it’s not just any teams circling here; both New York juggernauts, the Red Sox, Orioles, and Cubs are all in the mix trying to secure his arm.

It’s no shock to me. Greg Joyce from the NY Post recently mentioned that the Yankees, who once traded King to the Padres during that much-talked-about Juan Soto deal, are eyeing a reunion. Meanwhile, the Mets have dipped their toes in the pool, having even had a video chat with the 30-year-old ace before the Winter Meetings. Sure, King’s been battle-tested with injuries—he’s a bit of a gamble—but his upside? Off the charts. Just two seasons back, he was a Cy Young contender, boasting a 2.95 ERA and smashing 201 strikeouts. This past year, health issues capped him at 15 starts, but when he’s on, he’s a force. The kind of talent that makes you want to hold your breath and root hard.

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Michael King appears to be the most likely of the free agent starters to sign next, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

The belief, per Feinsand, is that King will land a four-year deal.

Both New York teams are among his suitors, along with the Red Sox, Orioles, and Cubs.

That certainly doesn’t come as a surprise, as Greg Joyce of the NY Post reported on Monday that the Yankees were open to a reunion with King, whom they dealt to the Padres as part of the Juan Soto trade.

The Mets have also been connected to the 30-year-old this offseason, and the two sides reportedly had a video meeting ahead of last week’s Winter Meetings.

While King’s injury history makes him a bit of a risk, he does present an intriguing addition to either rotation.

The Rochester-native was one of baseball’s top arms two seasons ago in his first year as a full-time starter, finishing seventh in Cy Young voting after posting a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts.

He was solid again when healthy this past season, but two different stints on the IL limited him to just 15 outings.