Left-handed pitcher Max Fried and Yankees reach historic agreement, sources say
Max Fried and New York Yankees reach 8-year, $218 million contract, sources say, with the richest deal for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history
DALLAS — The lMax Fried launcher and the New York Yankees they arrived at a agreement of contratro by eight seasons and 218 million dollarsseveral sources confirmed this Tuesday at the Major League Winter Meetings.
Fried goes to New York with him largest contract in history for a left handed pitcher and the fourth most expensive for a pitcher overall, after playing eight seasons for the Atlanta Braves, including his first full season in 2019.
Since his first full season in the major leagues, Fried is 71-31 with a 3.06 ERA. In 2024, the left-hander went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA in 29 appearances, all as a starter.
According to various reports, Fried was courted by the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays, after being ranked among one of the best free agents available at the end of the previous season.
Fried is the second winningest pitcher in the Majors over the previous six seasons, only behind Gerrit Cole (79-33), who will be his teammate starting next year.
His $218 million contract exceeds that of David Pricewho signed with the Red Sox for $217 million in 2015. Price and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw ($215 million) are the only other left-handed pitchers to receive contracts worth more than $200 million.
Fried joins a rotation that includes Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Néstor Cortés and Marcus Stroman.
The Braves made a “qualifying offer” last month for $21.5 million to receive compensation if he signed with another team, as has already happened.
