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Yankees Sign Max Fried to Eight-Year, $218M Contract

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The New York Yankees have made a significant splash in the offseason, agreeing to terms with prized free agent pitcher Max Fried on a eight-year, $218 million contract, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. Specifically, Fried, a 30-year-old left-hander, joins the Yankees after spending eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves. Building on his impressive tenure with the Braves, Fried has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the National League.

Yankees Sign Land Max Fried to Lucrative Deal

One of the best pitchers to emerge from the massive rebuild the Braves undertook nearly a decade ago, Fried debuted with Atlanta in 2017. As his career progressed, he spent the next few years establishing himself as one of the game’s top starters. Most notably, he will always be remembered for the six scoreless innings he provided to clinch the 2021 World Series with a Game 6 win over the Houston Astros.

Fried and the Braves agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract for the 2024 season. He was 11-10 with one shutout in 29 starts, covering 174 1/3 innings. He led the NL in ground ball percentage (58.8%) while having the second-lowest exit velocity (86.3 mph). Fried posted a .325 ERA with 7.5 hits per 9 nine innings, keeping opposing batters to a .225 batting average.

Fried’s impressive defensive skills have garnered numerous accolades. In 2020, he earned his first NL Gold Glove Award and the Fielding Bible Award as the top defensive pitcher. Fried repeated as a Gold Glove winner in 2021. He captured the Silver Slugger Award as the best-hitting pitcher, a rare feat achieved by only three pitchers in MLB history.
That season, Fried became a dual award winner, recognizing his exceptional all-around performance. Both years, he was honored as an All-MLB team selection. Fried continued his upward trajectory in 2022, earning his first MLB All-Star selection. He also secured his third consecutive Gold Glove Award, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s top defensive pitchers.

Main Photo: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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