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.
More MLB: Predicting Juan Soto's 7 Most Likely Landing Spots As MLB Hot Stove Heats Up
:quality(85):upscale()/2024/04/24/878/n/3019466/36c5693c662965c5d1ce91.72473705_.jpg)
English (US) ·