DALLAS — The New York Yankees are optimistic about Max Fried’s potential, particularly recalling his impressive performance in 2021 when he secured the World Series title for the Atlanta Braves.
Following the Yankees’ recent disappointment in losing Juan Soto to the rival Mets, Fried agreed to a lucrative eight-year contract worth $218 million to join the Yankees. This contract marks a significant milestone in baseball history as it becomes the largest deal ever for a left-handed pitcher, surpassing David Price’s seven-year contract, which was valued at $217 million with the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2016 season. Fried’s agreement was first reported by a prominent sports network and is still pending a successful physical examination.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Fried, stating, “He’s one of the game’s really, really good pitchers and has a really good track record now of success. He’s a special talent.” The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus, with half of this amount due on January 31, 2025, and the other half on January 31, 2026. Fried’s salary will start at $12 million for the first two seasons, escalating to $29 million for the subsequent six years.
Yankees fans expressed frustration after Soto opted for the Mets’ substantial $765 million contract over the Yankees’ competitive offer of $760 million. In light of this, the Yankees decided to allocate resources toward bolstering their starting pitching, although Fried’s addition carries some risk. The two-time All-Star has faced injuries frequently, spending time on the injured list ten times since 2018, with interruptions occurring at least once each season.
Fried, who attended high school alongside notable players Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles, now ranks fourth in the list of largest contracts awarded to pitchers. This list includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the Los Angeles Dodgers, who recently signed a 12-year deal worth $325 million, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole at $324 million for nine years, and Stephen Strasburg from Washington at $245 million across seven years. Strasburg has not participated in a game since 2022 and is now retired.
During the contract discussions, Yankees staff engaged with Fried in a virtual meeting. Boone reflected on observing Fried’s competitive spirit on the mound, emphasizing his impressive demeanor during their meeting. Fried transitions to the Yankees after an eight-season tenure with the Braves and will join a lineup of potential starters that includes Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes, and Marcus Stroman, suggesting that further roster adjustments may be on the horizon as Cortes and Rodón recently celebrated their birthdays.
Having showcased a diverse pitch repertoire, Fried is a three-time Gold Glove recipient who will turn 31 on January 18. His pitching arsenal includes seven distinct pitches, with a fastball that averaged 93.9 mph this past season, thrown 33.6% of the time. He also effectively utilized curveballs (21%), sinkers (15.6%), changeups (13.6%), and others throughout the season. In 2023, Fried recorded an 11-10 record with a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts, achieving 166 strikeouts while allowing a career-high of 57 walks in 174 1/3 innings. He faced issues related to left forearm neuritis, marking the seventh consecutive year he has been placed on the injured list.
Fried’s previous injuries included a series of setbacks that affected his pitching hand and legs. Boone acknowledged the inherent risks associated with Fried’s injury history but noted the team’s confidence in his capabilities, adding, “We feel like he’s a really good pitcher and the way he goes about it, prepares, trains, we feel like he’s doing everything he can to be a guy that’s able to consistently go to the post.”
Selected seventh overall in the 2012 amateur draft by the San Diego Padres, Fried underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 before being traded to the Braves as part of a deal involving outfielder Justin Upton. His major league debut took place in August 2017, followed by multiple options to the minors over the 2018 season. Fried’s career included an impressive 17-6 record with a 4.02 ERA in 2019 and a perfect 7-0 record with a 2.25 ERA during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, where he finished fifth in the National League Cy Young Award standings.
In 2021, he posted a 14-7 record with a 3.04 ERA, culminating in six scoreless innings against Houston in Game 6 of the World Series. The following year, Fried again excelled, achieving a 14-7 record with a 2.48 ERA and earning All-Star recognition for the first time. In 2023, he further solidified his prowess with an 8-1 record and a 2.55 ERA across 14 starts.