When Juan Soto bolted for the Mets, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said one player was at the top of his wish list: Max Fried.
The Yankees then signed Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal, the largest contract in MLB history for a left-handed pitcher.
Fried was introduced at the Stadium during a news conference Wednesday as the centerpiece for this new-look Yankees team that’s also added Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams in trades since Soto’s departure.
“We’re defending our [American League] title with a whole different crew,’’ Cashman said.
4 Yankees pitcher Max Fried poses for a photo in Yankee Stadium after an an introductory press conference. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
And they’re not finished, as even with a new top-of-the-rotation lefty, a dominant closer and a slugger who can start either in center field or at first base, Cashman still has plenty of work to do, with the GM saying he remains engaged in the first base, second base and bullpen markets, because holes remain.
But they are unlikely to make a more significant splash than bringing in Fried, who developed into a very effective starter with the Braves, albeit with some injury issues.
The Yankees like the 30-year-old’s ability to throw a wide variety of pitches and the fact that he’s got a bit of a different look than some of his hard-throwing counterparts.
However, he’s exceeded 175 innings pitched just once and has been bothered by forearm, soft-tissue and blister issues.
4 Yankees pitcher Max Fried putting on a Yankee jersey and cap with manager Aaron Boone looking on. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Yankees will take their chances.
“We feel like we added a championship piece to the rotation,’’ manager Aaron Boone said.
“We’re excited he wanted this opportunity,” Cashman said. “He wanted New York. He wanted to come here to join an already formidable rotation.”
Cashman called Fried an “artist on the mound,” as well as “a five-pitch pitcher who’s evolved over the course of time. … It’s a big contract, no doubt about that.”
The soft-spoken Fried — who said his first thought about what to do after signing his huge contract was to get food for his dog Apollo — said he is looking forward to the added pressure of pitching in The Bronx.
“Putting on pinstripes, responsibility comes with that,’’ Fried said. “Last week, I was walking through the clubhouse and three words were put up on the wall: ‘Prepare, compete and win.’ I thought a lot about that. To me, as a player, it really resonated with me. Winning is a big priority for me. I love playoff baseball.”
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Fried has plenty of experience pitching in October with the Braves, though he has a 5.34 ERA in his past 13 postseason appearances (12 starts).
The Yankees have already seen another high-priced free agent lefty struggle in his first year in The Bronx, with Carlos Rodon pitching poorly in 2023 before a bounce-back season in 2024.
Fried and the Yankees hierarchy believe there’s a higher ceiling for the seventh-overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Padres out of high school.
4 Braves pitcher Max Fried throws in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals. AP
When healthy, Fried typically has been effective since his 2017 debut, and he’ll be slotted into a rotation that includes Gerrit Cole as the ace, as well as Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, with Marcus Stroman likely looking for a spot in the bullpen.
It’s a much different offseason than the Yankees would have had if Soto didn’t leave for the Mets’ 15-year, $765 million deal.
“In Juan Soto’s case, it’s a generational talent that came off the board and we went in a different direction,’’ Cashman said.
4 Yankees pitcher Max Fried poses for a photo with this family, including his girlfriend Reni Meyer-Whalley, mom Carrie Fried and dad Jonathan Fried, during an introductory press conference. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Yankees had to wait until they got the Soto verdict before Cashman could sign another high-priced free agent, preventing him from bidding on lefty ace Blake Snell, as well as infielder Willy Adames.
Both signed deals before Soto’s decision.
The trade for Bellinger gives the Yankees some flexibility, as Bellinger can play all three outfield spots, as well as first base.
But the Yankees likely will add at least another infielder, as well as more bullpen pieces.
Then they’ll hope to replicate the success they had last season, even without Soto.