The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will likely clash in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. However, a new point of contention may emerge between the two longtime rivals. Both New York and Boston are in the market for a left-handed starter, and according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, they were both interested in Blake Snell before he signed a five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Snell now off the board, Feinsand suggests that the Yankees and Red Sox may turn their attention to Max Fried, the top remaining left-handed free-agent starter. While the Yankees and Red Sox are in the mix, they’ll face competition from several other teams.
The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are also pursuing Fried, and other American East teams, along with clubs around the league, are expected to chase starting pitching help.
Yankees, Red Sox Set to Clash Over Max Fried
If one of the Yankees or Red Sox secures Fried’s services, the other may be forced to explore alternative options. According to Feinsand, one potential target could be Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, who may be available on the market for the right price. Scouts and executives widely regard Crochet as a superior option to the remaining left-handed starters on the trade market. Sean Manaea, Matthew Boyd, Andrew Heaney and Jose Quintana are other options available as free agents.
As one NL executive noted, “Fried and Crochet are in a totally different tier. Whoever misses out on Fried may have no choice if they’re hell-bent on adding an impact left-handed starter.”
Buyer Beware
Teams should be aware of several warning signs surrounding Fried, a top free agent. He’s widely regarded as one of the best available. Fried’s 8 percent walk rate in 2024 was his highest since 2020. This marks the second straight season his walk rate has increased. Additionally, his 24.1 percent whiff rate was down, coming in at his lowest mark since his rookie year in 2017.
Fried’s 34.6 hard-hit percentage stands out, marking his highest rate since 2019. While he remained in the top 20 percent of the league in that category, it’s a trend worth monitoring.
Contract Comparison
So what kind of deal can Fried expect? Carlos Rodón was entering his age-30 season when he reached free agency, landing a six-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees. Fried, who will be 31 in January, has a longer track record than Rodon did at the time. Aaron Nola, who signed a seven-year, $172 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies last year, is another potential comparison. While Fried may not secure a deal of that length, a five or six-year deal with an average annual value between $25 million and $28 million is within his reach.
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