Yankees Reportedly Didn't Pursue Michael King, Who Are NY's Top Pitching Targets?
The New York Yankees didn't make an offer to bring back Michael King before the veteran starter re-signed with the San Diego Padres, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported.
That's at least in part because the Yankees "have other targets," according to Heyman.
The news comes after the New York Post's Joel Sherman reported the Yankees didn't make an offer to retain relief pitcher Luke Weaver before he left in free agency to join the New York Mets.
Heyman previously reported in November the Yankees had "shown interest" in star Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who has until Jan. 2 to sign with an MLB club.
Other top starters still available on the market include Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Nick Martinez, Chris Bassitt and Zac Gallen.
Other available starters include Zack Littell, Patrick Corbin, Erick Fredde, Justin Verlander, Zach Eflin and Nestor Cortes, per MLB.com.
Some potential targets are already off the board now that Dylan Cease has signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, Merrill Kelly has returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Shota Imanaga accepted a qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs.
Top free agents like Imai or Valdez would be expensive targets for the Yankees, especially considering the team has already committed more than $90 million to keeping Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Max Fried in the rotation next season.
The Yankees are in urgent need of pitching help, however, after Cole, Rodón and Clarke Schmidt underwent surgeries to address various injuries.
All three starters are now set to miss the start of the 2026 campaign, although Rodón is expected to return in April or May and Cole is looking to come back in May or June, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Schmidt, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is anticipated to miss the majority of the season.
That leaves the Yankees with a potential Opening Day rotation featuring Fried in front of two pitchers with limited MLB experience (Will Warren, Cam Schlittler) and one who struggled with injury last season (Luis Gil).
The Yankees also need to address their bullpen after losing both Weaver and closer Devin Williams to the Mets.
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported back on Dec. 10 the Yankees considering bringing back free agent first baseman Cody Bellinger to be their top priority for 2026.
As the free agent market continues getting thinner, however, the Yankees may need to make some pitching acquisitions in the near future while negotiating with Bellinger this offseason.
