A Week Post-Surgery for Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees Appreciative for Acquiring Max Fried
New Perspective on Max Fried's Decision: Yankees vs. Red Sox
Step into the world of baseball drama as we delve into the case of Max Fried, the sought-after pitcher who found himself in a bidding war between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox during free agency.
Recently, the Red Sox have shied away from major free agents since their last World Series win in 2018. However, this offseason marked a notable exception to the trend, with the team extending a seven-year, $190 million offer to Fried, although the specifics of deferred payments remain unclear, similar to their deal with Alex Bregman[1]. After losing out on Fried, the Red Sox made a series of moves, acquiring Garrett Crochet for four prospects, signing Walker Buehler, and eventually bringing Bregman on board.
Speaking about his decision-making process, Fried told reporters in Tampa, "They were interested, and I met with the coaching staff and front office. Really nice, great people, and I definitely considered them." He added that he was open to meeting with any team interested in him[2].
The 'Big Apple' ultimately won Fried over, inking an eight-year, $218 million deal, making it the largest contract ever for a left-handed pitcher[1]. With this move, the Yankees added Fried as their third big-ticket free agent since the end of the 2019 season, following recent developments in the Juan Soto saga signing with the cross-town New York Mets.
In his first encounter with his new rivals, albeit in a spring training setting, Fried pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball in an exhibition game. Manager Aaron Boone praised his versatility, saying, "Every time I watch him, it's just hard to get a bead on him... [He] does so many things with the ball."
Fried's arrival at the Yankees comes at a crucial time, as star pitcher Gerrit Cole is expected to miss this season and potentially parts of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery[3]. With Fried on board, the Yankees aim to survive Cole's absence and maintain their strong position in the AL East against their age-old rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
"A Gut Feeling" Draws Fried to the Bronx
As Fried steps into his new role, his teammates and coaches are optimistic about what he can bring to the table. "That's who I am; I'm a ground-ball guy," Fried stated, a sentiment the Yankees hope to hear frequently from their new starter[3]. With the team's strong infield defense and Fried's tendency to induce ground balls, they could be in for a successful season, even without Gerrit Cole.
[1] Enrichment: According to ESPN, Max Fried's eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees is the largest ever for a left-handed pitcher, surpassing Zack Wheeler's five-year, $118 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
[2] Enrichment: The Axios report indicates that Max Fried was considering the Red Sox, noting the team's interest and the Zoom call conducted to discuss his potential signing.
[3] Enrichment: The New York Post reports that Gerrit Cole is expected to miss the entire 2023 season and possibly parts of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, leaving a significant gap in the Yankees' rotation. The team hopes that Max Fried can fill this void and help them maintain their competitive edge.
- Reportedly, Max Fried's decision to join the New York Yankees was heavily influenced by a 'gut feeling', despite the Boston Red Sox offering him a seven-year, $190 million deal with deferred payments, similar to their agreement with Alex Bregman.
- In the baseball world, the Red Sox's offer to Max Fried for a trillion dollars, spread over seven years, was a noteworthy exception to their recent policy of avoiding major free agents since their spring of 2018.
- As spring training commences, the Yankees, following Max Fried's signing, aim to maximize their sportsmoney investments, with a strong infield defense and Fried's ground-ball approach, in an attempt to fill the void left by the injury-induced absence of Gerrit Cole.
