In order for the remainder of free agency to begin, the entire baseball community is waiting for Juan Soto to sign. The New York Yankees, who are hoping to keep the talented outfielder after he helped them win the World Series in his one season with the team, are among the top teams in the mix. Most people believe that will happen in the coming days.
But Juan Soto isn’t the only player the Yankees are interested in. Michael Kay reports that the 90-minute Zoom call between the New York brass and Braves star Max Fried went “very well.” It is also anticipated that the two parties will meet again soon.
It will become clearer after Juan Soto makes his choice, but Max Fried is one of the many high-profile free agents waiting for his market to heat up. New York has the financial means to buy both, but whether Soto picks the Yankees or not may affect how serious they are about Fried.
As of right now, mum is the best source regarding the Braves’ interest in Max Fried. Given Atlanta’s reputation for keeping things under wraps, that doesn’t really imply anything. Fried won’t be inexpensive, either, based on some of the league’s early deals for starting pitchers. He was even able to smell $200 million. If the Braves hope to regain their staff’s ace, they will need to step outside of their comfort zone.
As the bidding war looms, the $156 million All-Star Ace “went very well.”
The New York Yankees are concentrating on re-signing outfielder Juan Soto, but general manager Brian Cashman has other priorities on his offseason checklist. One major goal appears to be securing an ace, with Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried emerging as a top target.
With Blake Snell now off the market after signing a five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fried becomes the best left-handed starter available in free agency. A two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner, Fried has been a reliable ace for the Braves since transitioning to a full-time starting role in 2019. Over that span, he has recorded a 71-31 record, a 3.06 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 797 strikeouts in 824 2/3 innings. Additionally, Fried brings significant postseason experience, having pitched 67 playoff innings, including during Atlanta’s 2021 World Series championship run, though his playoff ERA stands at 5.10.
The Yankees have officially entered the race for the 30-year-old, and early signs are positive. Yankees play-by-play announcer and ESPN radio host Michael Kay shared encouraging updates during his Wednesday show. “The Yankees had a 90-minute Zoom call with Max Fried yesterday, and it supposedly went very well,” Kay said. “Someone close to Fried mentioned that Max was highly impressed and is likely to schedule another meeting with them.” Fried is anticipated to command a nine-figure contract, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting a six-year, $156 million deal, though that figure could rise depending on market trends.
Competition for Fried’s signature is expected to be fierce, with the Boston Red Sox among the potential contenders. If they pursue him, it could spark another intense bidding war between the Yankees and their AL East rivals.
