The Yankees are willing to spend a piece of the riches that free agent outfielder Juan Soto turned down to join the Mets on an All-Star left-hander that would add another ace to their rotation. A source familiar with the negotiations told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday that the final bids are in and they are awaiting Max Fried’s decision.
It is anticipated that Fried will select a club prior to the conclusion of the Winter Meetings on Wednesday. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Fried was projected to get a six-year, $156 million contract and was ranked as the sixth-best free agent going into the summer.
Fried would be the Yankees’ second starter after ace Gerrit Cole if they were to sign him. The rotation would be completed by Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil, the current AL Rookie of the Year. Fried, 30, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Braves, going 73-36 with a 3.07 ERA. This past season he went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA in 29 starts.
Fried was named to the 2022 and 2024 All-Star teams. Here is a scouting report from this week on Fried from a veteran scout, who talked to NJ Advance Media this week after being granted anonymity.
The Yankees don’t really need starting pitching, but Fried would give them another ace in their rotation to pitch behind Gerrit Cole. He’s a strike thrower when he’s healthy. He changes speeds. He can work in and out of the zone. He gets swings and misses in and out of the zone. He’s got that bulldog mentality. If the Yankees add Fried, with Cole, Gil, Schmidt and Rodon, that’s as good a five as anyone has.
Fried would allow the Yankees to trade Marcus Stroman and Nestor for bullpen arms, a short-term center field option who is superior to (Trent) Grisham, or perhaps someone to contend for a starting position at second or third base. Jasson Dominguez, the top prospect, would have extra time to obtain more minor level at-bats if he needed them.
What about Marcus Stroman, a two-time All-Star righty, and Nestor Cortes, a 2022 All-Star left-hander? The trade market would have both. If Stroman, 33, pitches 140 innings in 2025, he would earn $18 million in 2024, the last season of a two-year, $37-million contract that includes a $18 million player option for 2026. He was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 games and 29 starts last season, with a strong first half and a dreadful second half.
Cortes, who turned 30 on Tuesday, pitched 31 games last season, 30 of which were starts, and finished 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA. After choosing not to have surgery, he unexpectedly made a comeback for the World Series after missing time due to a flexor tendon issue last season. Following the 2025 season, Cortes will be a free agent. According to MLB Trade Rumors, he earned $3.95 million last year and is expected to earn $7.7 million this year.
