Bryan Hoch
NEW YORK – The three words lingered in Max Fried’s mind, days after he had been escorted on a tour of the home clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, representing the next step in the Yankees’ courtship of the touted left-hander. He recounted the sequence of those large letters, printed for all passersby to consume: “Prepare. Compete. Win.”
Considering his options in the cluttered arena of free agency, that simple mantra seemed to provide clarity. As he slipped on a pinstriped No. 54 jersey for the first time, Fried said he was ready to embrace the weight of responsibility and expectations that uniform signifies, confirming that the Bronx is exactly where he wants to be.
“When I get out there, I’m going to leave everything out there and compete to the best of my abilities,” Fried said. “The one thing that we’re out here to do is to win. I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the Yankees and part of this organization.”
Fried, 30, was formally introduced on Wednesday in a Yankee Stadium news conference, eight days after agreeing to an eight-year, $218 million contract that represents the largest deal ever issued to a left-handed pitcher, and the fourth largest for any pitcher.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman described Fried as a “warrior on the mound” and a “genuine, down-to-earth human being” outside the lines — asked what he might do with his newfound riches, Fried smiled and replied, “The first thought that popped into my mind was getting my dog a bunch of dog food.”
Yes, little Apollo Fried (a three-year old mutt who was not intentionally named after the character in the "Rocky" movies, but let’s roll with it) should plan on eating well for quite some time. Fried, meanwhile, aims to continue doing what he has become accustomed to in Atlanta – pitching in the postseason every year.
“Winning is a big priority for me,” said Fried, who won a World Series with the Braves in 2021. “Every single year the Yankees come to Spring Training, the number one goal is to win a World Series, to get to the playoffs. It’s not to do anything besides hold up the trophy at the end of the year.
“Knowing I was going to make a potentially long commitment, I wanted to be in a place that I knew I was going to be able to win, year in and year out.”
New threads for @MaxFried32 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VP88D3ju5U
The Yankees envision Fried as a formidable No. 2 behind ace Gerrit Cole, with pitching coach Matt Blake stating on Wednesday that he believes the club’s analytical data may be able to refine Fried’s seven-pitch arsenal even further.
“There’s a level of improvability going forward, just how the arsenal can be crafted and pulled apart,” said Blake, who added that he expects Fried to throw 175 to 180 innings this coming season. “There’s some room to evolve with us.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone recalled seeing Fried’s name slotted atop the club’s wish list in the team’s Winter Meetings suite at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, making him an instant target once Juan Soto decided to accept the Mets’ offer.
The Yanks’ interest was bolstered in part by a successful 90-minute Zoom meeting earlier in the offseason with Fried; Cashman said that he “loved his answers” in what was described as an “easily flowing, genuine, authentic” chat between the hurler and club executives.
Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball.
“When the Yankees say that they’re interested in you, you perk up and you listen,” Fried said.
Though 2024 marked Fried’s seventh consecutive season with a stint on the injured list (this time, for left forearm neuritis), he pitched to an 11-10 record and 3.25 ERA in 29 starts, permitting 146 hits and 57 walks over 174 1/3 innings, with 166 strikeouts.
He tied for the MLB lead with two complete games and one shutout, ranking second in ground-ball percentage (59%, first in NL) and opponents’ slugging percentage (.315, first in NL). Boone acknowledged there is “inherent risk” in any long-term deal, but the Yanks will bet on Fried’s preparation and training.
“What I like about him is, he’s been able to add and change his arsenal, or allow his arsenal to evolve over the years,” Boone said. “I think that’s going to be something that really serves him well in the long term.”
Boone recounted a 2020 start that Fried made against the Yankees in Atlanta, when the Bombers were handcuffed to a run on four hits in a 2-1 loss. In Boone’s recollection, batter after batter returned to the dugout, muttering about how, “He’s just got a lot of ways to beat you.”
“You see him in there and he’s kind of soft-spoken, articulate and reserved, but this is a guy that is tenacious between the lines,” Boone said.
That’s exactly what the Yankees hope to inflict upon the rest of the American League; just in their own division, Fried has compiled a 2.23 ERA across 10 starts and 62 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays, Orioles, Rays and Red Sox, fashioning a 7-2 record.
“I’m excited about being able to put the pinstripes on in Yankee Stadium, for the Yankees,” Fried said. “It’s one of the most storied, winning franchises in sports. I want to be able to do my part in adding to that.”
