The New York Yankees Secure Victorious Bid for Prominent Left-Handed Pitcher Max Fried
Following a narrow miss on the top hitter in the free agent market, the New York Yankees have clinched the top left-hand pitcher.
The club inked two-time All-Star Max Fried, on the brink of turning 31, on an astounding eight-year, $218 million deal, pending a successful physical examination.
Pairing Fried with holdover right-hander Gerrit Cole, a former Cy Young Award laureate, presents the Yankees with a formidable left-right pitching duo at the helm of their rotation. This partnership continues the tradition of impressive southpaw starters in New York, dating back to the legendary Hall of Famer Whitey Ford and encompassing esteemed Cooperstown candidates CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte.
To acquire Fried, the Yankees had to enter a second auction in a week.
Post-losing Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, the Mets, on Tuesday, the Yankees added an extra year to their existing bid, as per MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Contract specifics were disclosed by ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Yankees Enhance Bid
Given the fierce competition from the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers for Fried, according to New York Post's Joel Sherman, the Yankees aggressively delved into their financial resources to close the deal. In the end, Fried inked more years and a larger paycheck than two-time Cy Young Award recipient Blake Snell, who went to the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.
The signing potentially jeopardized a reunion with former Atlanta teammate Freddie Freeman, whose 2024 World Series MVP performance and crucial home runs secured the Dodgers' title against the Yankees in five games.
Fried, recognized for his exceptional control and ability to minimize home runs, will secure an annual income of $27.25 million. There are no deferred payments or opt-out options involved.
Yankees' Loses
Given that Fried declined the qualifying offer extended by his sole Major League team, the Atlanta Braves, the Yankees must relinquish their second and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 amateur draft, along with $1 million from their international bonus pool.
Yankees' owner Hal Steinbrenner sought to pacify disillusioned fans who felt the team failed to secure Soto, who hit a career-high 41 home runs last season.
Fried will be placed in a starting rotation led by Cole and the AL Rookie of the Year, Luis Gil. Behind them, the choices range from left-handers such as Carlos Rodon to right-handers Marcus Stroman and Clarke Schmidt.
However, the Yankees still require assistance in other positions, with the exception of shortstop Anthony Volpe and outfielder Aaron Judge.
The funds saved by missing out on Soto could be allotted to address those needs.
Fried, whose first full-fledged season as a starter began in 2019, boasts an impressive 3.07 ERA in 824.2 innings pitched since then. He has an impressive 73-36 record over eight Major League seasons.
Despite the signing of Fried, the Yankees are projected to have a salary cap of $257 million, according to Roster Resource, trailing both the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now that Fried has agreed to the terms, the priciest free agent pitcher on the market is Corbin Burnes, a former Cy Young Award victor currently with the Baltimore Orioles. It's safe to assume his asking price has significantly increased because of the Fried signing.
Braves Opt Out
Fried's former team, the Braves, remained uninterested bidders. Atlanta's general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, has a reputation for inking position players rather than pitchers due to his apprehensions regarding pitchers' frequent injuries.
Notably, the only young Braves pitcher to secure a long-term contract, Spencer Strider, missed the majority of the 2024 season due to an elbow injury detected following only two starts.
For the upcoming season, the Braves' probable starting rotation includes veteran left-hander Chris Sale, boasting 18 wins and his first Cy Young Award last season. Fellow veteran Reynaldo Lopez, successfully transitioned from a reliever to a starter, and young talents Spencer Schwellenbach and Strider, are also likely starters.
Candidates for the fifth spot include post-season hero Ian Anderson, erstwhile All-Star Bryce Elder, and promising rookies AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep.
- The Yankees' acquisition of Max Fried joins Gerrit Cole in their rotation, emulating the tradition of strong left-handers in New York, following in the footsteps of pioneers like Whitey Ford, CC Sabathia, and Andy Pettitte.
- The Atlanta Braves chose not to match the Yankees' offer for Max Fried, which involved relinquishing their second and fifth-highest draft picks in 2025 and $1 million from their international bonus pool.
- With the signing of Max Fried, the New York Yankees now have a projected salary cap of $257 million, trailing only the Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Corbin Burnes, the priciest remaining free agent pitcher after Fried's signing, is expected to have an increased asking price due to the competitive market and Fried's precedent-setting deal.
- Hal Steinbrenner recognized the discontent of Yankees fans following the missed opportunity to sign Juan Soto and emphasized the importance of investing the saved funds to address other team needs, besides shortstop Anthony Volpe and outfielder Aaron Judge.
