After missing out on Juan Soto over the weekend, the Yankees quickly turned their attention to securing a top starting pitcher in free agency.
On Tuesday, the Yankees signed left-handed pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. This deal marks the largest guaranteed contract for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. Fried’s contract includes no deferrals or opt-outs, and he also has a full no-trade clause, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.
Fried, 30, is entering his ninth season in the majors, having spent his entire career with the Atlanta Braves. A two-time All-Star, he boasts a 2.81 ERA since 2020, the third-best among qualified starting pitchers during that period, with a 54-25 record over 112 starts.
Several other high-spending teams, including the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Rangers, were also in pursuit of Fried, who was considered one of the top remaining starters this offseason alongside Corbin Burnes.
With their budget freed up after losing out on Soto, the Yankees were able to invest heavily in Fried, bolstering their starting rotation. Fried will slot in behind ace Gerrit Cole as the No. 2 starter, joining a rotation that includes Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes, and Marcus Stroman. While this move doesn’t address the Yankees’ offensive needs, it strengthens their pitching staff, which will help with run prevention.
With an abundance of pitching depth, the Yankees may look to trade one of their surplus arms to acquire a bat, given how expensive the free-agent starter market has been this winter.
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