The Yankees are in settlement with Max Fried on a staggering eight-year, $218MM contract, experiences Jeff Passan of ESPN (X hyperlink). The settlement is pending a bodily. Jon Morosi of the MLB Community reported earlier this night that the Yanks have been prepared to supply Fried seven years. They have been evidently amenable to going past that to get the market’s high unsigned left-hander.
Fried got here into the offseason as one of many beginning pitchers in the marketplace, and it’s a market that has confirmed fairly sort to beginning pitchers so far. Even so, it’s arduous to not be blown away by the scale of Fried’s new contract. Not solely did he signal for extra years and assured cash than fellow southpaw Blake Snell, however he signed the most important contract for a left-handed pitcher in MLB historical past. What’s extra, USA Immediately’s Bob Nightengale provides that the deal comes with no deferred cash and no opt-outs. The Yankees can pay him a mean annual wage of $27.25MM per yr by his age-38 season. Joel Sherman of The New York Submit provides that the deal additionally features a full no-trade clause.
Finally, the Yankees provided Fried the required years and {dollars} to outbid fellow finalists the Purple Sox and Rangers (per Sherman). It’s not arduous to see what they like in regards to the southpaw. Relationship again to his first full season in 2019, Fried has a 3.07 ERA in 824 2/3 innings pitched. Just one pitcher in baseball has bested him in each classes throughout that point: Gerrit Cole. Now, the 2 of them will be a part of forces on the high of the Yankees’ rotation. Certainly, it’s absolutely that observe file of dominance and sturdiness that made Fried such an interesting goal within the Bronx. Carlos Rodón may be dominant, however he’s unreliable. Marcus Stroman has an extended historical past of stable performances, however his ceiling is low. Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt have been glorious in 2024, however each of them lack a observe file of success. Fried is the entire package deal, and after shedding the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Yankees had cash to outspend the remainder of the sector for his companies.
Extra to return.
