The New York Yankees have not made a major splash in free agency so far, but their offseason activity continues to draw attention as they explore multiple options on the pitching market. Among those options is a familiar name. Michael King, who began his major league career with the Yankees before being traded to the San Diego Padres, is now the subject of confirmed interest from his former organization.

Cody Bellinger has been the free agent most frequently connected to the Yankees this offseason, but King’s name has surfaced repeatedly in recent reporting. Yankees insider Bryan Hoch addressed the situation on Monday, writing, “There’s real interest.” Hoch added that King’s qualifying offer presents a complication, calling it “inconvenient,” but explained that it would not necessarily prevent the Yankees from moving forward. He also referenced the team’s recent history, noting that the Yankees lost a compensation pick last year when they signed Max Fried and “hardly blinked about it.”

King’s history with the Yankees spans several seasons. He appeared in 115 games for New York, making 19 starts while primarily working in a swingman role. During that time, he posted a 3.38 ERA. Despite his effectiveness, he was never used as a full-time starter. That opportunity came only after he was included in the trade that brought Juan Soto to the Bronx.

With the Padres, King was deployed as a starter and produced one of the strongest seasons of his career. He finished that year with a 2.95 ERA across 31 games, making 30 starts. The only appearance that did not come as a start occurred during the season-opening series in Seoul, when he pitched as a reliever ahead of multiple off days.

The following season was limited by injuries. King made 15 starts and recorded a 3.44 ERA. Despite that, Hoch said that King remains highly respected within the Yankees organization. “You won’t find a person in the Yankees’ organization with a negative thing to say about King,” Hoch wrote. “They loved him — he’s a bulldog and he fits their current needs in so many ways.” Hoch also reiterated that the Yankees understood the cost of including King in the Soto trade, adding that “it was a price worth paying to get to a World Series, even with how it all turned out.”

The Yankees’ interest comes as they are expected to be without Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón to start the year. King could fill a rotation spot during that period, though one of the team’s starters would need to move to the bullpen once Cole and Rodón return.

Interest in King extends well beyond the Yankees. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that King appears to be the most likely free-agent starter to sign next and that the belief around the league is he will receive a four-year deal. According to Feinsand, the Yankees and Mets are among his suitors, along with the Red Sox, Orioles, and Cubs. Greg Joyce of the New York Post also reported on Monday that the Yankees were open to a reunion with King. The Mets have been linked as well, and the two sides reportedly held a video meeting ahead of last week’s Winter Meetings.

King is 30 years old and comes with an injury history that teams have evaluated closely. He has previously broken a finger after dropping a weight plate, suffered an elbow fracture after throwing a sweeper in 2022, and damaged a nerve in his throwing shoulder after sleeping on it incorrectly. Last season, he dealt with knee inflammation in August. Across his career, he has had táhree significant stints on the injured list. Since 2023, he has posted a 19.3 percent strikeout-minus-walk rate and a 3.48 FIP as a starting pitcher. League background included in the reporting indicates that his performance and makeup could lead to a contract exceeding $80 million in total value.

As the market around King develops, sportsbooks show how pitching additions factor into expectations for New York. Caesars lists the Yankees at +850 to win the World Series, the Mets at +1600, and the Dodgers at +300. BetMGM also has the Yankees at +850, with the Mets at 17.00 in decimal odds, while PointsBet lists the Yankees at 9.50. Earlier in the offseason, the Yankees were listed as long as +900, reflecting modest tightening as roster situations are evaluated.

The Yankees remain active on both the free-agent and trade fronts, with people familiar with the team’s situation indicating that neither path has been ruled out. Trade candidates mentioned in the reporting include Sandy Alcantara, MacKenzie Gore, Edward Cabrera, and Freddy Peralta. Free-agent options such as Tatsuya Imai and Michael King remain under consideration as the organization continues to assess its pitching needs.