Padres GM A.J. Preller never wanted to trade Juan Soto. But that turned out to be a great deal for both the Yankees and Padres, as Michael King became a big star, and Preller sent Drew Thorpe to the White Sox for Dylan Cease.

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There’s no evidence the Padres have held extension talks with free-agent-to-be King.

The Yankees didn’t want to give up King but understood they had no choice after declining to talk Jasson Domínguez. King was always known as the most prepared pitcher going, and one Yankees person said he was also the most confident young pitcher (with Clarke Schmidt a close second).

King, an East Coast guy (he’s from Rhode Island) who lived in Manhattan and whose wife is from Paramus, N.J., is a great candidate to return to the Yankees as a free agent. …