The Yankees wasted no time pivoting after losing Juan Soto this offseason, turning their attention to fortifying their starting rotation by locking in one of the best run-prevention pitchers in baseball.
Max Fried’s eight-year, $218 million deal ensures that the Yankees have a dominant one-two punch at the top of their rotation, pairing him with ace Gerrit Cole. It’s a move that signals a clear priority: win with elite pitching, especially in October.
Fried’s Run Prevention Is Elite
Few pitchers in the game control contact like Fried. He ranked in the 95th percentile in average exit velocity last season, meaning hitters struggled to square him up.