Yankees Land Max Fried with an Eight-Year, $218 Million Contract
The New York Yankees have made a significant addition to their starting rotation by signing Max Fried, one of baseball's most coveted left-handed pitchers, to an eight-year contract worth $218 million. This decision underlines the Yankees' determination to bolster their pitching depth, adding a proven ace to complement their existing staff.
Max Fried, a former standout with the Atlanta Braves, brings an impressive track record to the Bronx. His performance over the past few years solidified his reputation as one of the premier pitchers in the league. From 2020 through 2023, Fried consistently demonstrated his ability to dominate on the mound, posting a stellar 2.66 ERA over nearly 500 innings. During the 2024 season, he maintained a 3.25 ERA across 29 starts, covering 174 ⅓ innings. Such achievements highlight Fried's consistency and ability to deliver under pressure.
At the age of 30, and soon to celebrate his 31st birthday in January 2025, Fried enters the Yankees' rotation as a seasoned player with a proven winning pedigree. His crucial role in the Braves' 2021 World Series victory, particularly his Game 6 win against the Houston Astros, adds a championship-winning experience that the Yankees look to tap into. This aspect is vital for a franchise with aspirations of reclaiming championship glory.
Fried's contract also includes a full no-trade clause, providing him with stability as he transitions to his new team. In terms of metrics, Fried excels in controlling exit velocity, ranking in the 95th percentile last season, and he consistently generates nearly 60% ground balls. Despite surpassing the 180 innings threshold only once in his career, these strengths ensure that he remains an effective and reliable starter.
Adding Fried complements a Yankees rotation that already boasts the likes of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil, with Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes providing additional depth. The Yankees have made it clear that their aim is to build a pitching staff capable of contending for championships, having recently clinched both the AL East and the AL pennant.
The Atlanta Braves, while losing an ace, will receive a compensation draft pick following the fourth round, an opportunity to replenish their farm system. Fried's journey in Major League Baseball has been intriguing, with a notable trade early in his career involving Justin Upton and the San Diego Padres in December 2014.
As R.J. Anderson aptly articulated, "We wanted to print a complete list of left-handed starting pitchers with a better ERA+ than Fried since the beginning of the 2020 season, but we ran into a problem. You see, no sinister hurler who had a decent amount of innings (min. 200 combined) actually placed ahead of him in that metric." This statement underscores Fried's elite status among his peers.
Meanwhile, in a notable development across town, Juan Soto has committed to a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets. The move sets the stage for an electrifying rivalry in New York, as both teams have invested heavily in superstar talent.
Fried's arrival in New York marks a new chapter in his career. As the Yankees focus on reclaiming World Series titles, the addition of a pitcher of Fried's caliber could well be the key in transforming their championship aspirations into reality. With the combination of experience, skill, and a championship pedigree, Max Fried is set to be a pivotal figure in pinstripes for years to come.