The Yankees have awarded their star pitcher Max Fried a groundbreaking contract following his strikeout of Soto.

The New York Yankees swiftly moved past the disappointment of Juan Soto's departure by securing left-handed starter Max Fried with an eight-year, $218 million contract, as reported by a source familiar with the agreement to USA TODAY Sports. This individual requested anonymity since the contract will not be finalized until Fried successfully completes his physical examination. This agreement, which features no deferrals or opt-outs, marks the highest contract ever awarded to a left-handed pitcher and ranks as the fourth-largest contract for any pitcher in history. Following Soto's rejection of their 16-year, $760 million offer in favor of a $5 million increase and a shorter deal with the Mets, the Yankees demonstrated resilience. They recognized the necessity to address multiple roster gaps and understood that signing Soto would have severely limited their financial flexibility to address other needs. With Fried joining ace Gerrit Cole, the Yankees now possess one of the premier left-handed pitchers in the league and retain sufficient funds to pursue a third baseman, center fielder, first baseman, and possibly a couple of relievers. According to an official, the Yankees have shown interest in potentially trading for St.

Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, Chicago Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger, and are considering free agent first baseman Christian Walker and reliever Tanner Scott. They will still have ample financial resources available that were not allocated to Soto. "This won't deter us from aiming to assemble another strong team," Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated on Tuesday morning. "There are various approaches to achieving this. We are uncertain about the direction we will take this winter. The unfolding of events, the free agents that become available, and potential trade matches are all part of the excitement of this period, as we strive to make sound evaluations and decisions to position ourselves favorably for the future." The disappointment of losing Soto was certainly mitigated by the acquisition of Fried, 30, a two-time All-Star.