Now Fried.
Fried and the Yankees on Tuesday agreed to an eight-year, $218 million contract, an individual accustomed to the scenario confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In phrases of complete {dollars}, it’s the largest deal for a left-hander in historical past, and fourth-largest contract for a pitcher general.
Fried, who turns 31 in January, will make $27.25 million per 12 months. He’ll be 39 years outdated when his contract ends.
Fried’s deal doesn’t comprise any deferred cash. It features a full no-trade clause. It doesn’t have any opt-outs.
And while you discovered of the precise monetary phrases of Fried’s new cope with the Yankees, you had been sure about this: The Braves had been by no means going to pay him that.
The final time the Braves and Fried engaged in significant discussions a few contract extension was earlier than the 2023 season, in accordance with an individual accustomed to the matter. The sides exchanged figures however talks ultimately fizzled.
The Braves will obtain a compensatory draft choose as a result of they prolonged a qualifying supply to Fried, who rejected it and signed elsewhere. Fried and the Yankees will go to Truist Park on July 18-20, which is the weekend popping out of the All-Star break. If Fried is an American League All-Star, he may pitch at Truist Park within the All-Star Game.
The contract is a significant win for Fried, who deserves it. For Braves followers, it’s one other merciless and agonizing reminder that, irrespective of how a lot they love or care about gamers, baseball is a enterprise.
On Sunday, Juan Soto agreed to a cope with the Mets. Since then, these Winter Meetings on the Hilton Anatole had been quiet. Then the information of Fried’s huge contract added some juice to the occasion.
Fried will at all times have a spot in Braves historical past for throwing six scoreless innings in Game 6 of the 2021 World Series because the Braves closed out the Astros. In that legendary efficiency, Fried had his proper ankle stepped on whereas he lined first base within the first inning … then completed six scoreless innings after that. In a approach, this was Fried: He was typically his finest after dealing with adversity. He is a real competitor. And greater than that, he exited the rebuild with Atlanta and have become a part of a profitable core.
The last picture of his Braves tenure: After a loss in San Diego that eradicated the Braves, Fried sat at his locker within the visiting clubhouse, impassive, staring into his locker. As his teammates moved round and readied to depart, Fried stayed put. He might need recognized he had simply pitched his last recreation in a Braves uniform.
Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com
As the offseason started, it appeared the Braves weren’t a sensible suitor for Fried. With beginning pitching costs at an all-time excessive, Fried clearly priced himself out of what the Braves had been snug providing him.
Fried, who debuted in 2017, was one among three Braves gamers who had been current for all the run of six consecutive National League East titles and a World Series. The others: Ozzie Albies and A.J. Minter. Now, Fried is gone. Minter is a free agent. There’s sentimental worth in Fried’s journey from a 20-year-old prospect in Atlanta’s system to a World Series champion and key piece of an impressive Braves core.
Fried’s Braves tenure ends like this: A 3.07 ERA over 168 regular-season video games – 151 of them begins – and 884 1/3 complete innings.
The Braves nonetheless have Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach. Strider received’t be prepared for opening day, however shouldn’t miss a lot of the season. But the Braves will miss Fried, who is without doubt one of the masters of his craft.
Fried is without doubt one of the finest pitchers in baseball. Teams covet elite beginning pitching and there isn’t a ton of it. Fried is a real front-line man. Fried is a significant addition to the Yankees’ beginning rotation because the membership hopes to return to, and win, the World Series.
Fried has seven good pitches (in case you rely a slider and sweeper as totally different). When dealing with Fried, hitters by no means see the identical at-bat a number of occasions. He can assault guys in numerous methods due to his expansive repertoire.
As a lot as Braves followers will really feel ache and unhappiness over Fried’s departure, maybe they started to succeed in a stage of acceptance over Fried. Unlike Freeman and Swanson, who appeared like logical candidates to return, it at all times felt like Fried and the Braves would wrestle to line up on a deal that each side wished.
Traditionally, Atlanta hasn’t spent loads in free company. And maybe sure components of Fried deterred the Braves. But for the Yankees, the big-market workforce that flexes monetary muscle, nearly any contract is doable. And Fried will definitely assist them within the current and future.
Fried hasn’t had a significant damage since he underwent Tommy John surgical procedure as a Padres prospect, however he’s skilled damage scares. And aside from that iconic Game 6 – which must be remembered eternally – he’s been considerably shaky within the postseason.
This previous season, Fried had a short injured-list stint resulting from left forearm neuritis. In 2023, he made solely 14 begins within the common season resulting from a left forearm pressure. He’s by no means logged greater than 185 1/3 innings in a season in his profession.
Fried had that epic World Series Game 6 efficiency, however his subsequent few postseason begins weren’t nice. All three included some type of powerful luck for him. In 2022, he fell ailing shortly earlier than the postseason and the abdomen bug took loads out of him earlier than he pitched. In 2023, he handled a blister on the finish of the season that he fought via within the playoffs. This October, a comebacker drilled him within the glute and the muscle tightened up on him in his two-inning begin.
On that October afternoon at Petco Park, Fried allowed 5 runs over two innings. He walked off the mound and supervisor Brian Snitker lifted him from the sport.
It marked the ultimate time we might see Fried in a Braves uniform.
But we knew that then. It is just official now.
And the following time you see Fried on a mound, he’ll be in pinstripes.
