LHP Max Fried has agreed to a staggering $218 million, 8-year contract with the New York Yankees, as reported by ESPN. This agreement is contingent upon a successful physical examination, which is standard practice in Major League Baseball.
The Yankees made this strategic move just two days after outfielder Juan Soto signed a massive $765 million, 15-year deal with their rivals, the Mets, highlighting the intense competition in the league.
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Fried, who will celebrate his 31st birthday in January, now holds the fourth-highest contract among pitchers, trailing only behind the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million), the Yankees’ own Gerrit Cole ($324 million), and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg ($245 million), who has not pitched since 2022. Notably, Fried has surpassed the previous record for left-handed pitchers set by David Price at $217 million.
With Fried joining the rotation, the Yankees now have a formidable lineup that includes Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes, and Marcus Stroman, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the upcoming season.
Fried’s journey began with the Atlanta Braves, where he spent his first eight seasons. He earned All-Star honors in both 2022 and 2024, showcasing his talent and consistency. His breakout season came in 2019, where he achieved a 17-6 record with a 4.02 ERA.
In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he excelled with a perfect 7-0 record and a 2.25 ERA, finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. His stellar performance peaked in 2022 when he posted a 14-7 record and a remarkable 2.48 ERA, further solidifying his reputation as a top pitcher.
In the 2023 season, despite battling injuries, Fried managed an impressive 8-1 record with a 2.55 ERA, followed by an 11-10 record and a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts this year.
Originally drafted as the seventh overall pick by San Diego in 2012, Fried was traded in 2014 as part of a deal that brought Justin Upton to the Padres, marking a significant turning point in his career.
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