The New York Yankees today announced they acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Michael King and 2017-18 international signing bonus pool money from Miami in exchange for infielder Garrett Cooper and left-handed pitcher Caleb Smith.
King, 22, spent the entire 2017 season with Single-A Greensboro, going 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA (149.0IP, 52ER) in 26 games (25 starts). Among all South Atlantic League pitchers, he tied for second in wins, while ranking second in ERA and strikeouts/walk ratio (5.05, 106K, 21BB) and third in innings pitched. Among Marlins farmhands, he ranked third in wins and ERA. The Rochester, N.Y., native attended Boston College and was originally selected by the Marlins in the 12^th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.
Cooper, 26, made his Major League debut with the Yankees in 2017, batting .326 (14-for-43) in 13 games with the club. He began the year in the Brewers organization, hitting .366 (102-for-279) with 64R, 29 doubles, 17HR and 82RBI in 75 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs, leading all Triple-A players in batting average and doubles through the All-Star break. He was acquired by the Yankees on July 13 in exchange for LHP Tyler Webb and appeared in just six regular season minor league games for the organization, combining to hit .296 (8-for-27) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton. Cooper was originally selected by Milwaukee in the sixth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.
Smith, 26, also made his Major League debut with the Yankees this season, going 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA (18.2IP, 16ER) in nine games (two starts). He began the season with Double-A Trenton, making one relief appearance (2.2IP, 1ER) before being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 13, where he went 9-1 with a 2.39 ERA (98.0IP, 26ER) and 97K in 18 games (17 starts) en route to being named to the International League All-Star team. Smith was selected by Milwaukee in the Major League phase of the 2016 Rule 5 Draft on December 8, 2016 and traded to the Cubs the same day in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. He was returned to the Yankees from the Cubs on March 28, 2017. He was originally selected by the Yankees in the 14th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.