The Boston Red Sox have already swung a pair of big trades for starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo this offseason, but they may not be done adding to this area of their roster. One player who is reportedly drawing quite a bit of interest from the Red Sox is San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King.
In two seasons with the Padres, King has turned himself into a reliable top-end starting pitcher. He only appeared in 15 games last season, but he still posted a 3.44 ERA with 76 strikeouts during his limited time on the mound.
With King’s free agency heating up, it appears the Red Sox, New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are the three finalists to land his signature. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, though, the Orioles may have to significantly outbid the Sox and Yanks if they intend to land King.
“I would expect that the Orioles are really going to have to outbid the Yankees and Red Sox to get Michael King,” Rosenthal said on “Fair Territory.” “I know what they’ve done is really … but they’re still not a team that necessarily is going to be considered, by Michael King at least, the way the Yankees and Red Sox are.”
King has ties with both Boston and New York that could impact his decision. King initially began his career by spending five seasons with the Yankees, but before he made it to the majors, he pitched for the Boston College Eagles at the collegiate level.
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The Red Sox’s decision to continue to pursue pitching, even in the wake of their aforementioned trades, is a bit of a surprise, but it’s clear that King would be a great fit on this team’s pitching staff. And while this appears to be a three-team race for King’s signature, it could truly end up coming down to the Sox and the Yanks.
Featured image via Denis Poroy/Imagn Images
