Rumors of the New York Mets showing interest in Luis Arraez weren’t so much disappointing as they were surprising. Arraez is a solid player who could certainly improve the team, but only if the Mets also add another power hitter to the roster. With Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte already in the lineup, Arraez alone wouldn’t bring enough power — barns in Lancaster, Pennsylvania might have more pop.
Meanwhile, financial pressures could force the San Diego Padres to shed payroll, potentially moving one of their higher-priced stars. While there hasn’t been much buzz about them shopping someone like Fernando Tatis Jr., another name frequently mentioned alongside Arraez is Dylan Cease.
Things might have shifted slightly yesterday. Arbitration-eligible players had a Thursday deadline to reach agreements with their teams. While deals can still be made to avoid arbitration, one key Padres player stood out for failing to secure an agreement. Michael King, who emerged as a dominant force on the mound last season, might be a player the Padres consider trading now. If they wait too long, they risk losing him in the offseason due to potential frustration on his end.
The only way the Mets trade anything of value to the Padres for Luis Arraez should be if they can get a guy like Michael King paired with him
The Mets already have their fair share of former Yankees on the roster, so why not add one more? Acquiring one of the standout players from last winter’s Juan Soto trade would give Mets fans a reason to gloat a little when chatting with Yankees fans. For those without suspenders to tug on dramatically, a simple “na-na na-na boo boo” should do the trick.
Michael King, set to hit free agency after this season, is shaping up to be another ex-reliever poised to compete for a Cy Young. He placed seventh in the voting last year, boasting a 13-9 record with a 2.95 ERA across 30 starts and a relief appearance for the Padres. Known for his filthy stuff and impressive numbers, King was the Yankees’ version of Seth Lugo—only he didn’t get nearly enough chances to start. Unlike Lugo, who at least had an opportunity to start early in his career, King was never given the same leash.
Luis Arraez joining the Mets would only make sense if the price were negligible—a pure salary dump. However, trading for King would require the Mets to part with some prospect capital. As a rental, King likely wouldn’t demand an exorbitant return despite his talent. Something valuable but not too painful from the Mets’ farm system seems reasonable for a player of his caliber with only one year of team control. After all, his name may suggest royalty, but the price tag doesn’t have to match.
Rubbing a move like this in the Yankees’ faces isn’t the goal—it’s just an added perk.
Whether the Padres and King come to terms or not remains to be seen. His salary negotiations already highlight some tension, with King seeking $8.8 million and the team countering at $7.325 million.
If the Padres want to maximize their return, a deal involving Arraez and King could be mutually beneficial. By leveraging the Mets’ financial resources, the Padres could get something in return before King walks in free agency. And as Mets fans, we wouldn’t mind one bit.
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