How Yankees Trade For $22 Million Pair Of Stars Could Alter Pennant Race

Earlier this week, I proposed four hypothetical trades the New York Yankees could look to swing in order to bolster their roster and cement themselves at the top of the American League.

The trade that could make the most sense was a massive deal involving both Michael King and Luis Arráez of the San Diego Padres.

Here’s the full deal I proposed to send King and Arráez to the Yankees:

Yankees receive RHP Michael King, INF Luis Arráez Padres receive:

OF Spencer Jones, RHP Ben Hess, RHP Cade Smith

The Padres are likely looking to trade some of their expiring contracts in order to reload for the future. If San Diego can land a big league-ready outfielder like Spencer Jones in this deal, it could be enough for the Friars to let these two expiring contracts go. Ben Hess and Cade Smith are incredibly talented, too, but they’re not big league ready at this point.

For the Yankees, they would be able to play Arráez at second base while slotting Jazz Chisholm Jr. back over at third base, where he played last season. Better yet, the Yankees would land a solid contact hitter to place at the top of the lineup ahead of Aaron Judge.

King would be a huge addition to a depleted Yankees rotation. He’s been a Yankee before, so it would take no time to adjust back to playing in the Bronx. With Gerrit Cole out for the season, King could step in as a top of the rotation starter this year.

The Yankees might have to add in a prospect like Jorbit Vivas to make this deal go through, but it seems quite even already.