Yankees ‘Really Liked’ By Max Fried in Virtual Meeting as Aaron Boone Takes Part in Early Conversations
The New York Yankees are making a strong bid for coveted free agent pitcher Max Fried, the team spoke with him via Zoom on Monday, multiple sources said. General Manager Brian Cashman along with manager Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake, were all part of the hour-long meeting.
While it is still early in the free agency process, this intense interest – and the Yankees’ willingness to have such high-level personnel participate in the first meeting – suggests they are very serious about Fried.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, it ‘went very well,’ and Fried was reportedly ‘very impressed’ with the Yankees’ presentation. A second meeting is already expected.
This is not surprising, given Fried’s status as one of the top remaining pitching talents on the market. The Atlanta Braves’ ace over the past five years, he’s coming off another solid season where he posted a 3.25 ERA
with an 11-10 record across 174.1 innings in 29 starts. He led MLB in complete games (2) and shutouts (1) and boasts a remarkable 2.89 ERA as a starter since 2020.
The Yankees, who have lost ace Gerrit Cole, are hoping to bolster their rotation with an impact arm. Fried would undoubtedly be a major upgrade, slotting in nicely alongside Rodón, the recently crowned American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, as well as Clarke Schmidt or Marcus Stroman.
Several other teams are interested in
Fried, including the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. It’s expected that
Fried will aim for a six-year deal, likely worth around $136 million, although numbers haven’t been officially discussed yet.
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What motivated Max Fried to meet with the Yankees?
## Yankees ‘Really Liked’ By Max Fried in Virtual Meeting as Aaron Boone Takes Part in Early Conversations
**(Host):** Welcome back to the show. Joining us now is beat writer, Bob Jones, who’s been covering the Yankees for years. Bob, there’s some exciting news coming out about the team’s pursuit of free agent pitchers. What can you tell us?
**(Bob Jones):** Well, the Yankees seem to be making moves early this off-season, and they’ve got their sights set on some big names. Reports surfaced this week that the team had a Zoom meeting with free agent aces Max Fried and Corbin Burnes [[1](https://nypost.com/2024/12/04/sports/yankees-spoke-with-free-agent-pitchers-max-fried-corbin-burnes/)]
**(Host):** That’s huge! They’re targeting top-tier talent, aren’t they?
**(Bob Jones):** Absolutely. Apparently, the meeting with Fried went incredibly well. Sources close to the situation say the Yankees were very impressed with Fried, and the feeling is mutual. He reportedly “really liked” the conversation and the direction the team is headed. This is a great sign for Yankees fans who’ve been hoping for a major addition to the pitching rotation.
**(Host):** And that’s interesting you mentioned direction. It’s been reported that manager Aaron Boone even participated in the initial talks. That’s rare this early in the free agency period, isn’t it?
**(Bob Jones):** It is. It shows just how serious the Yankees are about landing Fried. Boone’s involvement demonstrates that the team wants Fried to feel wanted and valued, not just by the front office, but by the coaching staff as well.
**(Host):**
So, where do things stand now? Any idea what the next steps might be?
**(Bob Jones):** It’s still early, but this initial meeting suggests formalities are underway. I wouldn’t be surprised to see additional conversations and potentially even visits scheduled soon. Keep in mind, the Yankees aren’t the only team vying for Fried’s services. But this strong start certainly puts them in a good position.
**(Host):** Well, Bob, thanks for that insight. We’ll be following this story closely. It sounds like the Yankees could be on the brink of making a major splash in free agency.
**(Bob Jones):** You bet. It’s shaping up to be an exciting off-season for the Bronx Bombers.
