Yankees ‘Checked In On’ Two-Time All-Star Ace Predicted to Sign $156M Deal
The New York Yankees managed to retain Gerrit Cole after he opted out of his $324 million deal. However, general manager Brian Cashman still seems interested in upgrading his 2025 starting rotation. Could longtime Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried be a realistic fit for the Bombers?
Fried has been a consistent ace since becoming a full-time starter for Atlanta in 2019. He’s posted a 71-31 record with a 3.06 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 797 strikeouts over his last 824 2/3 innings of work. The southpaw has won 11-plus games four times while earning two All-Star selections, three Gold Gloves and one World Series title.
His final season before free agency in 2024 resulted in an 11-10 record with a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings. This was an important platform year because he was limited to 77 2/3 innings in 2023 for Atlanta.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Wednesday that Fried was among four free-agent aces the Yankees recently touched base with. “The Yankees checked on the free-agent ace pitchers — Max Fried, Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell — but it remains uncertain whether they would do Soto and an ace pitcher, too,” he said. “The Yankees also are interested in Sean Manaea, who will turn down the $21.05M qualifying offer from the Mets.”
New York’s current rotation mix for 2025 includes Cole, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil and Nestor Cortes. While that seems like a crowded rotation, Cashman could make room and improve another part of the roster by trading a hurler.
Fried is among the top starting pitchers in free agency this winter. MLB Trade Rumors has predicted the southpaw will land a six-year, $156 million deal.
Report: Yankees Aggressively Pursuing Free Agent Relievers At GM Meetings
The New York Yankees came up just short of a World Series title this year. Now, they’re headed into one of the most important offseasons in Brian Cashman’s tenure as the general manager.
Obviously, the top priority is going to be Juan Soto and bringing the superstar back to the Bronx on a huge contract.
But New York isn’t going to stop there. The Bombers are not going to be content with returning the same roster and running it back in 2025. Their front office is out to acquire better talent in their lineup, rotation and bullpen
MLB insider Jon Morosi of MLB Network revealed the Yankees are already being very aggressive just a few days into the offseason.
“Yankees are among the most aggressive teams in speaking with reps for free-agent relievers at the GM Meetings,” Morosi wrote in a post to Twitter/X. “One reason: Three members of their World Series bullpen — Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, Tim Hill — are free agents.”
Aaron Boone’s team had a solid bullpen down the stretch, but it wasn’t the most dominant unit in the league. It certainly wasn’t the dominant Yankees bullpen that everybody was used to seeing in the 2010s.
With three key relievers now in free agency, Cashman could pursue multiple free agent arms while also looking into an offseason trade to bring in a true closer. Devin Williams and Camilo Doval are two names that could make sense for the Yankees to call and ask about in the coming months.
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