How Michael King found out Yankees traded him for Juan Soto

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Yankees reliever Michael King’s date night with his fiancée, Sheila Hill, was interrupted by the news that he was getting traded to the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster for outfielder Juan Soto, according to ESPN “Sunday Night Baseball” announcer Karl Ravech.

King and Hill, who are set to tie the knot on Dec. 16, were taking in the Rockettes when the pitcher received three phone calls — from general managers Brian Cashman (Yankees) and AJ Preller (Padres) and Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

“But (Wednesday) night, he was at the Rockettes, which is something he and his soon-to-be wife decided to do,” Ravech said on the “Baseball Tonight” podcast with Buster Olney on Thursday.

“He doesn’t have MLB TV, so he had to get on the phone with his agent and watch MLB TV through his agent’s phone.

“It was just bizarre. I mean, it’s sort of typical of somebody who doesn’t necessarily have that tool right away, so you can sit there and watch, and he wasn’t sitting there and watching it.”

Michael King #34 of the New York Yankees pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 26, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Getty Images
Michael King and his fiancée Sheila Hill. Instagram/Michael King

In addition to the 28-year-old King, the Yankees sent pitchers Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez and Drew Thrope to the Padres for Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham.

“I spoke to [King’s] dad that morning and the impression and the impression that Booney’s phone call left on him was incredible,” Ravech said.

“So I just reached out to Aaron to let him know how important that phone call was and the knowledge that everyone has… If you get traded for a future Hall of Famer and you’re the centerpiece there is no greater compliment.

New York Yankees Pitcher Michael King (34) reacts during the MLB baseball regular season game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays on September 26, 2023, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone celebrates with Michael King #73 after a victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 28, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. Getty Images

“… I would imagine that the Yankees tried to throw other names into the mix to keep Michael King.”

King, a Rochester, N.Y. native, has been successful across nine late-season starts, posting a 2.23 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings.

The Miami Marlins traded King to New York in exchange for Caleb Smith and Garrett Cooper in November 2017.

Michael King and his fiancée Sheila Hill. Instagram/Michael King

King has a career 3.38 ERA in 247 2/3 innings.

The Marlins selected King in the 12th round (353rd overall) of the 2016 MLB draft.

King proposed to Hill in December 2022.

It’s unclear if his Yankees’ teammates will be in attendance at the couple’s nuptials on Dec. 16.

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