The New York Yankees' trade for Juan Soto was unique for many reasons. Not only was it the second time in three years that a generational talent who was still in the arbitration process was moved, but the package it took to acquire him was night and day year over year. The San Diego Padres, even with trading Soto, were looking to contend, so rather than ask for a boatload of top prospects in return, they targeted controlled major league talent.
The headliner of that package, Michael King, had undergone a breakout in 2022, becoming a nasty multi-inning reliever, and in 2023 had taken it up a notch before morphing into a starter down the stretch.