The New York Yankees have made a significant splash in free agency, agreeing to an eight-year, $218 million deal with left-handed pitcher Max Fried. The contract is the most lucrative ever given to a left-handed pitcher.
Fried, who turned 30 in August, has been an ace for the Atlanta Braves in recent years, pitching to a 3.23 ERA in 29 starts in 2024. His career ERA is 3.07, and his 2.81 ERA since 2020 is the lowest in the sport among pitchers with at least 90 starts in that span.
The deal comes after the Yankees lost Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, earlier in the week. While Soto took a 15-year, $765 million deal from the Mets, the Yankees’ rotation is still one of the best in baseball, with Fried set to join ace Gerrit Cole and rookie sensation Luis Gil.
The Yankees will likely move on from either Marcus Stroman or Nestor Cortes to make room for Fried, who will make just over $27 million a year. Fried’s agreement also keeps him away from the Boston Red Sox, who were also interested in signing him.
The left-hander is known for his ability to limit average exit velocity and ground balls, and while he isn’t a swing-and-miss guy, his ability to induce weak contact is a valuable asset.
