Max Fried is heading to the Bronx on an eight-year deal, as Brian Cashman and company have signed a prominent lefty starter in free agency for the second time in three years.
The first signing has not worked out as the Yanks had hoped, even after Carlos Rodon had a solid regular season in 2024, and Gio wonders if Fried will become another high-priced starter that flames out under the bright lights in the Bronx.
“This is another one of these big starting pitchers coming from a smaller, quieter market that’s gonna be thrown out into the Bronx,” Gio said. “We can go on and on about the guys who have not worked out.”
Of course, there are also numerous examples of big-name pitchers signing big contracts with the Yankees and it does work out, as CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka come to mind. But there have also been plenty of disappointments, and Fried has the risk of becoming the latest entry onto that list, but after losing Juan Soto and the lack of star power on the offensive side in free agency, it was a move the Yankees needed to make.
“All the things I’m hearing about Fried, how he’s the perfect lefty who thrived in Yankee Stadium, it’s the same stuff we heard about with Carlos Rodon,” Gio said.
“I don’t think Brian Cashman thinks it’s smart to sign a 31-year-old to eight years. I think that’s just what you have to do to get these guys to choose you.”