TAMPA — Contemporary off his first begin in opposition to the Purple Sox since becoming a member of the Yankees, Max Fried didn’t make a lot of his introduction to a storied rivalry.
In spite of everything, the lefty’s preliminary style got here in an exhibition sport, as Fried twirled 4.1 scoreless innings in opposition to Boston at George M. Steinbrenner Discipline on Tuesday.
“It’s early,” Fried stated after a 4-4 tie by which he totaled two hits, zero walks, three strikeouts and 68 pitches.
Whereas there was no winner within the spring coaching contest, the Yankees beat out the Purple Sox and others for Fried’s companies over the offseason. The pitcher inked an eight-year, $218 million cope with the Bombers two days after Juan Soto bolted for the Mets. Fried’s deal is the richest assure a southpaw has ever gotten.
Boston in the meantime, reportedly provided Fried $190 million over seven years. So did the Rangers.
“You hear the little whispers,” stated Aaron Boone, who didn’t brag about touchdown Fried in the course of the Winter Conferences to his shut pal, Purple Sox skipper Alex Cora. “There’s people in the lobby, or in and around dinner, I’m hearing this.”
Requested concerning the Purple Sox, Fried stated he “definitely considered them” after assembly with coaches and entrance workplace personnel through Zoom. Purple Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, a highschool teammate at Harvard-Westlake within the Los Angeles space, helped Boston recruit Fried as nicely.
“He definitely had a hand in it,” Fried stated.
In the end, the Yankees made the very best provide, however Fried didn’t think about the context of two sworn enemies bidding in opposition to each other. He simply needed to make the very best determination for himself.
That, together with an additional $28 million and a further yr, put the Yanks excessive.
“Everyone that I talked to was really great,” Fried stated. “At the end of the day, I don’t know if I could really put my finger on it. It was just more of a gut feeling. I felt like this is the right place for me.”
Thus far that’s gave the impression to be the case.
Fried, scheduled to pitch the second sport of the common season, has been described as a “sponge” by Boone ever for the reason that Yankees had their very own enlightening Zoom over the offseason. It’s been straightforward to see why, as Fried has been steadily noticed selecting the brains of teammates, coaches and visitor instructors like Ron Guidry, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte this spring.
The Yankees may even want Fried to be an ace, as he’s their de facto No. 1 with Gerrit Cole sidelined by Tommy John surgical procedure. He’s appeared the half, recording a 2.53 ERA this spring, although it’s all the time greatest to not make a lot of stats this time of yr.
“This is just more about me getting ready and trying to do what I need to do to get ready for the year,” Fried stated. “The results were good, but that wasn’t what I was out for.”
