Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Photos
After a stellar eight-year run with the Atlanta Braves, Max Fried has cashed in by securing a profitable contract with the New York Yankees in free company.
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, Fried has agreed to an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees. The deal features a full no-trade clause and likewise has no choose outs or deferrals, per Joel Sherman of the New York Submit.
Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
BREAKING: Left-hander Max Fried and the New York Yankees are in settlement on a eight-year, $218 million contract, pending bodily, sources inform ESPN. It’s the largest assure in baseball historical past for a left-handed pitcher.
In line with Rob Bradford of WEEI, New York’s supply to Fried was “considerably” higher than that of their American League East rival Boston Crimson Sox, that are additionally out there for pitching this winter.
This information comes two days after the Yankees misplaced Juan Soto, who reportedly signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets.
Fried was initially chosen by the San Diego Padres with the No. 7 total choose within the 2012 MLB draft. He spent two years within the group earlier than being traded to the Braves as a part of the Justin Upton deal in December 2014.
On the time of the commerce, Fried was recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure that stored him out for all of 2015. He returned to motion within the minors in 2016 earlier than making his MLB debut late within the 2017 season.
It wasn’t till 2019 that Fried carved out a everlasting position in Atlanta’s rotation. He had a breakout season through the 2020 season that was shortened to 60 video games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The left-hander went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA and completed fifth in NL Cy Younger voting.
Fried’s worst season by ERA was 2024 when he had a 3.25 mark in 29 begins. He has been named an All-Star in two of the previous three years, ending second in NL Cy Younger voting in 2022.
The 30-year-old began and received the clinching Sport 6 for the Braves within the 2021 World Sequence towards the Houston Astros. He threw six shutout innings, permitting 4 hits with six strikeouts in a 7-0 victory.
Within the wake of Atlanta’s postseason loss to the San Diego Padres final season, Fried expressed hope that the 2 sides would be capable of work out a long-term deal to maintain him.
“[Wearing the Braves uniform] means the whole lot,” Fried stated. “It is the group that traded for me and gave me the chance to come back to the massive leagues and be a longtime huge league participant. I clearly do not know what is going on to occur, however I’ve completely beloved each minute of it, and hope to have many extra.”
Shedding Fried places the Braves in a difficult spot going into subsequent 12 months. Spencer Strider might miss a while in the beginning of 2025 whereas recovering from elbow surgery, however his choice to go along with the interior brace process somewhat than Tommy John might carry him again sooner.
Chris Sale had a incredible rebound 12 months in 2024 that earned him the NL Cy Younger, however he’ll be 36 in the beginning of subsequent season and was unable to pitch within the playoffs because of a again harm.
Whereas the Braves are going to have quite a bit to determine of their rotation, Fried will be part of the Yankees’ pitching workers in 2025 and past. He is been some of the dependable starters in baseball since 2019.
Fried’s 18.4 FanGraphs’ wins above alternative over the previous six seasons ranks fifth amongst all NL starters, trailing solely Zack Wheeler (29.3), Aaron Nola (23.2), Max Scherzer (19.2) and Logan Webb (18.8).
After retaining Gerrit Cole following a little bit of uncertainty about his opt-out situation, the Yankees are including one other frontline starter to their rotation.
Carlos Rodón had a stable 2024 marketing campaign, however he is been underwhelming total since signing a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees in free company. Nestor Cortes Jr. is a high-quality mid-rotation starter who hasn’t pitched on the degree he did to begin the 2022 season when he earned an All-Star choice.
Marcus Stroman, who signed with the Yankees final offseason, could not make their playoff roster after a tough common season. Luis Gil has large upside with a devastating changeup if he can ever harness his management after strolling 77 batters in 151.2 innings.
Fried will slot in behind Cole to present the Bronx Bombers a formidable duo on the high of their pitching workers, whereas additionally shifting different starters within the rotation down a slot as they attempt to get again to the World Sequence after dropping to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 5 video games.