The New York Yankees made a game-changing move on Tuesday by securing left-hander Max Fried on an eight-year, $218 million deal, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to break the news. At 30 years old, Fried was widely considered the top left-handed pitcher, if not the best overall, still available in free agency. Last season with the Atlanta Braves, he posted an 11-10 record with a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts. Since his MLB debut in 2017, he has been dominant with a 73-36 record and a 3.07 ERA across 168 games, including 151 starts. The seventh overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, Fried also drew interest from the Boston Red Sox before ultimately choosing the Yankees, according to reports from the Winter Meetings.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Fried’s deal, which is still pending a physical, will make him the highest-paid left-hander in baseball history, and the fourth-highest paid pitcher overall. The Yankees, looking to bolster a starting rotation that posted a 65-48 record in 2024, were eager to strengthen their pitching staff after being propelled by an explosive lineup featuring Juan Soto and American League MVP Aaron Judge. Soto had just signed the largest contract in MLB history—a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets—sending shockwaves throughout the industry. In response, the Yankees made their move, adding Fried to a rotation already featuring ace Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and Carlos Rodon, forming one of the most formidable starting five units in the league.
