The New York Yankees reportedly agreed to acquire left-handed pitcher Max Fried from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday afternoon.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the agreement to an eight-year contract worth $218 million. The contract has the greatest guarantee for a left-hander in baseball history. Fried’s physical is pending as the defending American League champions attempt to seal the move.
The 30-year-old finished his ninth season with Atlanta, where he earned a World Series championship in 2021. In subsequent years, the Braves have failed to advance beyond the National League Divisional Series. In addition to his title, Fried brings two All-Star selections, three All-MLB honors, and three Golden Glove Awards to the Bronx. Fried’s career record is 73-36, with a 3.07 ERA and 863 strikeouts.
The transaction would be the Yankees’ first significant acquisition since Juan Soto’s acrimonious departure. After guiding the Bronx Bombers to the World Series, where they were defeated by the Dodgers, Soto went for the Mets, their cross-town rivals. Soto is headed to CitiField after signing a record-breaking $765 million contract to wear orange and blue for 15 years. The agreement includes a full no-trade clause, a $75 million signing bonus, an opt-out after five seasons, and no deferred compensation.
The Queens-based team can void Soto’s opt-out clause after the 2029 season if they boost the average annual value of the final 10 years of his deal from $51m to $55m, per MLB.com.
A Subway Series for the world title nearly came to fruition before the Mets’ hopes for the final stage got derailed by the Dodgers
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