NEW YORK – The New York Yankees announced the completion of a significant contract with left-handed pitcher Max Fried on Tuesday, securing him for eight years at a staggering $218 million.
The agreement, which was reached during the winter meetings, came after the Yankees experienced disappointment in their pursuit of outfielder Juan Soto, who ultimately accepted a lucrative offer from their cross-town rivals, the Mets.
Fried’s contract is historic, marking the highest amount ever awarded to a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, surpassing David Price’s previous record of $217 million from his seven-year deal with the Boston Red Sox at the onset of the 2016 season.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed confidence in Fried’s abilities, stating, “He’s proved to be one of the league’s top pitchers with a commendable history of performance. He represents a unique talent.”
As part of the deal, Fried will receive a $20 million signing bonus, divided into two payments: one half due on January 31, 2025, and the other on January 31, 2026. He will earn $12 million annually for the first two years, and $29 million each year for the following six years.
Tensions ran high among Yankees fans after Soto chose the Mets’ 15-year offer worth $765 million over the Yankees’ slightly less lucrative 16-year proposal. This outcome led the Yankees to pivot their focus towards bolstering their pitching staff. However, Fried’s signing carries some risk, as he has had a history of injuries, spending time on the injured list a total of 10 times since 2018, including at least once each year.
Previously a high school teammate of well-known pitchers Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito, Fried now boasts one of the largest contracts in baseball for a pitcher, ranking fourth behind notable contracts like Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Gerrit Cole of the Yankees.
The Yankees’ front office connected with Fried through a Zoom call during the negotiation process. Boone remarked on Fried’s competitive nature, noting, “Watching him from a distance over recent years, it’s evident he competes fiercely on the mound, and that was clear during our discussion.”
Having spent his initial eight seasons in the majors with the Atlanta Braves, Fried now joins a Yankees rotation that features other strong pitchers, including Cole and Carlos Rodón.
In his last five seasons with the Braves, Fried recorded an impressive 54-25 win-loss record, boasting a 2.81 ERA with five complete games and four shutouts across 112 starts. Notably, he was one of only three pitchers to achieve two complete games in 2023, a year which saw only 16 complete games in total across the major leagues.
A three-time Gold Glove winner who will celebrate his 31st birthday on January 18, Fried possesses an extensive pitching repertoire, utilizing seven distinct pitches. This past season, he averaged 93.9 mph with his fastball, which he deployed 33.6% of the time, along with curveballs and sinkers among other pitches.
During the recent season, Fried’s performance included an 11-10 record with a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts, where he struck out 166 batters and walked a career-high 57 in 174 1/3 innings. He faced some setbacks this year due to left forearm neuritis, marking his seventh consecutive season with time spent on the injured list.
Fried’s previous stints on the injured list have been for varied reasons, such as blisters, strains, and a concussion, highlighting his challenging journey in terms of health. Boone acknowledged the risks associated with Fried’s history but expressed faith in the pitcher’s talent and diligence, stating, “There’s inherent risks, but we believe he is an exceptional pitcher. His approach to preparation and training suggests he is doing everything possible to consistently take the mound.”
Originally drafted seventh overall in 2012 by the San Diego Padres, Fried underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 before being traded to the Braves in a deal that involved six players. He made his major league debut in August 2017 and was briefly sent to the minors multiple times in 2018.
Fried’s career trajectory includes noteworthy seasons such as 2019—where he recorded a 17-6 record with a 4.02 ERA—and an extraordinary 2020 campaign, where he went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA while finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He continued to excel in 2021, posting a 14-7 record, contributing significantly to the Braves’ World Series victory, and earning his first All-Star selection in 2022 with yet another remarkable season.
With a promising track record and a significant new contract, Fried’s transition to the Yankees is expected to play a critical role in the team’s future endeavors.