The New York Yankees have made headlines this offseason by securing the services of left-handed pitcher Max Fried, a former Atlanta Braves ace, with an impressive eight-year contract worth $218 million. This signing marks a significant investment for the Yankees, who have embedded a full no-trade clause into Fried's contract, demonstrating their commitment to the pitcher and their confidence that he will be a cornerstone of their roster for years to come.
Fried's Impactful Career
Max Fried's journey to the Yankees is a testament to his consistent performance and invaluable presence on the mound. He has established himself among the elite pitchers in Major League Baseball, boasting a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts and 174 ⅓ innings in the 2024 season. Even more impressive, from 2020 through 2023, Fried posted a 2.66 ERA over nearly 500 innings, solidifying his reputation as one of the top performers in the league.
Fried played a pivotal role in the Atlanta Braves' 2021 World Series triumph, particularly by delivering a commanding victory in Game 6 against the Houston Astros. This performance cemented his status as a clutch postseason performer and reinforced the Yankees' decision to bring him on board. With this acquisition, New York aims to fortify its pitching staff while building on recent success.
The Yankees' Strategic Enhancement
The Yankees' decision to add Fried to their rotation underscores a strategic attempt to bolster their pitching depth, complementing a staff already featuring star pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil. Additional depth is provided by Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes. Fried's blend of skill and experience is set to enhance this formidable rotation, particularly due to his proficiency in controlling exit velocity—ranking in the 95th percentile in his last active season—and his knack for generating nearly 60% ground ball rate.
The Broader MLB Picture
As Fried transitions to the Yankees, the Atlanta Braves will see some form of recompense for his departure, receiving a compensation draft pick following the fourth round. This departure closes a significant chapter for the Braves, in which Fried's contributions were instrumental, notably after being part of the trade involving Justin Upton and the San Diego Padres back in December 2014.
The offseason has not only been eventful for the Yankees but also across town for the New York Mets. They recently made waves by locking down Juan Soto with a colossal 15-year, $765 million deal. This contract was a stark contrast to the measured yet impactful signing of Fried by the Yankees, showcasing the varying strategies teams employ to structure their rosters in pursuit of success.
Reflections and Expectations
Max Fried, now approaching his 31st birthday in January 2025, brings not only a wealth of experience but also unmatched talent to the Yankees. Notably, a reflection from sports analyst R.J. Anderson on Fried’s prowess illustrates his potential impact: "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 underscores how significant the acquisition is for the Yankees.
As they prepare for the upcoming seasons, the Yankees, with their fresh addition of Max Fried, are poised to continue their pursuit of dominance in the AL East and beyond. Having clinched both the AL East and the AL pennant last season, the anticipation around how Fried will influence their campaign runs high, promising excitement and intensity for the fans and the league.