New Padres pitcher Michael King on how he found out he was traded in the Juan Soto deal
Former Yankees reliever Michael King was one of the players involved in the seven-player deal that sent outfielder Juan Soto to the Bronx.
King learned he was part of the trade while he was on a date with his fiancée, Sheila Hill. The 28-year-old who is set to marry Hill on Dec. 16 was out watching the Rockettes when the pitcher received three phone calls. One from general managers Brian Cashman, AJ Preller and Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
“But (Wednesday) night, he was at the Rockettes, which is something he and his soon-to-be wife decided to do,” Ravech said on the Baseball Tonight podcast with Buster Olney on Thursday.
“He doesn’t have MLB TV, so he had to get on the phone with his agent and watch MLB TV through his agent’s phone.
“It was just bizarre. I mean, it’s sort of typical of somebody who doesn’t necessarily have that tool right away, so you can sit there and watch, and he wasn’t sitting there and watching it.”
King was sent to San Diego along with pitchers Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, prospect Drew Thorpe and catcher Kyle Higashioka.
King made 49 appearances for the Yankees last season, making nine start in the process. The right-hander posted a 2.75 ERA with 127 strikeouts over 104 2/3 innings.
“Really exciting,” Preller said following the trade. “He’s got multiple pitches and weapons. … He was one of the better relievers in the league last year, and honestly, in the last two months of the season, he was one of the top starters. I think we’re going to explore the starting option with him. Sounds like it’s something he’s always wanted to do.”
King is expected to slot into the Padres rotation, potentially as a No. 3 or 4 starter, behind Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove.
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