Is Michael King Proving the Padres, Not the Yankees, Won the Juan Soto Trade?

A Win-Win Trade, But the Padres May Come Out on Top

While both the Yankees and Padres have benefitted from the Juan Soto trade, Michael King's performance has given San Diego an edge. Soto’s impending free agency means the Yankees could lose him, while the Padres have King, Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish under control through 2025. If King continues his postseason dominance and builds on this momentum, the Padres may ultimately win this trade, despite parting with one of the game’s best players in Soto.

Michael King Shines in San Diego

Michael King didn’t waste any time proving his worth in his first full season as a Padres starter. With a 2.95 ERA, 201 strikeouts, and 1.19 WHIP over 173.2 innings, King led all Padres starters in ERA and posted standout numbers across the board. His advanced metrics were equally impressive, including a top-tier 85.7 mph average exit velocity and a 97th-percentile hard-hit rate. King became a key piece in the Padres’ rotation, trailing only Dylan Cease in fWAR and FIP.

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King’s Pitching Arsenal: Breaking Down His Success

Michael King’s success in 2024 came from his versatile pitch mix. His sinker, changeup, and sweeper were his most effective pitches, holding opponents to a batting average below .210. His changeup was especially deadly, producing a 36.2% whiff rate. King’s ability to mix pitches effectively allowed him to rank among the top MLB pitchers in strikeout rate (27.7%) and whiff rate (29.2%), further solidifying his dominance on the mound.

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King’s 2024 MLB Postseason Breakout Against the Braves

In the postseason, Michael King elevated his game even further. He made his playoff debut in the 2024 Wild Card round against the Atlanta Braves, delivering seven shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks. This historic performance made King the first pitcher to accomplish the stat line in his postseason debut. His playoff heroics only reinforced the Padres’ belief that they have another ace on their hands, adding to their already formidable rotation with Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish.

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A Win-Win Trade, But the Padres May Come Out on Top

While both the Yankees and Padres have benefitted from the Juan Soto trade, Michael King's performance has given San Diego an edge. Soto’s impending free agency means the Yankees could lose him, while the Padres have King, Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish under control through 2025. If King continues his postseason dominance and builds on this momentum, the Padres may ultimately win this trade, despite parting with one of the game’s best players in Soto.