Red Sox urged to target former Yankees hurler in free agency
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It’s no secret that the Boston Red Sox want to bring in another arm for their starting rotation this offseason.
Boston boasted one of the best overall pitching staffs in baseball this season, posting a team ERA of 3.70, which tied for fourth-best in the league. The Red Sox have talented young pitchers on their roster and a bullpen headlined by Aroldis Chapman, but behind southpaw ace Garrett Crochet, the team doesn’t have a clear-cut No. 2 starter.
Though the Red Sox could look to trade for a pitcher this offseason, CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa urged the team to consider signing San Diego Padres free agent hurler Michael King.
“The homecoming angle always gets overplayed in free agency but Michael King, a New England native, fits the Red Sox well on the field,” Axisa wrote Friday. “He’s a high-upside starter (see: 2024) who is plenty familiar with the AL East given his time with the Yankees, plus he’s shown he can be very effective in relief.
“That could come in handy come postseason time. King’s value is down because he missed time with shoulder and knee trouble in 2025, but, if his health checks out, there could be an opportunity to get a difference-making starter at a discount. The homecoming would be a neat talking point on top of the baseball fit.”
King, a former member of the New York Yankees, could be the perfect option for the Red Sox to bring in another top pitcher without having to break the bank. King made nearly $8 million this season and is expected to receive a sizable raise in the offseason, with Spotrac projecting the 30-year-old to sign a four-year contract with an annual value of roughly $23 million.
The 30-year-old pitcher spent the first five seasons of his career with the Yankees and has familiarity with the division, not to mention a career 3.24 ERA. Despite a disappointing 2025 season due to injury, King still performed well and would be a great addition for Boston’s starting rotation.
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