Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218 million, 8-year contract with Yankees, AP source says

The New York Yankees have reached an agreement with left-handed pitcher Max Fried on a record-breaking eight-year, $218 million contract, sources told The Associated Press. The deal, the largest ever for a left-handed pitcher, is pending a physical.

Fried secures historic payday

Fried, who turns 31 in January, surpasses David Price’s previous left-handed pitcher record of $217 million. His deal is now the fourth-highest among all pitchers, trailing the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million), the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole ($324 million), and Stephen Strasburg ($245 million).

Yankees bolster rotation

Fried joins a Yankees rotation already stacked with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman. The move follows the Yankees’ loss of outfielder Juan Soto to the Mets on a $765 million deal.

Career highlights

Fried, an All-Star in 2022 and 2024, spent eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He excelled in 2020 with a 7-0 record and a 2.25 ERA, finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting. Fried earned three Gold Glove Awards and posted his best season in 2022, going 14-7 with a 2.48 ERA.

Despite injuries, Fried had strong campaigns in 2023 (8-1, 2.55 ERA) and 2024 (11-10, 3.25 ERA).

Early career

Drafted seventh overall by the San Diego Padres in 2012, Fried was later traded to the Braves in a six-player deal involving Justin Upton.

The Yankees’ latest acquisition solidifies their rotation for the future as they aim to return to championship contention.