Max Fried Nearing Decision as Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays Emerge as Frontrunners

Left-hander Max Fried is one of the top remaining free agents this offseason, and it seems his decision could be coming soon. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Fried is expected to choose his next team by Thursday. The Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays are currently seen as the frontrunners in the race to sign the talented southpaw. Additionally, right-hander Corbin Burnes is attracting interest from the same three clubs, with the Giants also in the mix for Burnes, though not for Fried. The Rangers are mentioned as a potential destination for Fried, but this is considered a long shot, while the Angels, like the Giants, are not finalists for Fried.


It's perhaps not surprising that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays, who were all finalists in the pursuit of Juan Soto, are now the leading contenders for Fried. The general expectation across the baseball world has been that teams with significant financial resources would focus on Soto until his situation was resolved. Now that Soto has signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, attention has shifted to other top free agents like Fried.


Each of these three teams is looking to make a big splash this offseason, though their motivations differ. The Yankees recently made it to the World Series but suffered a deflating five-game loss to the Dodgers, highlighting the need for improvements. They also lost last year's major acquisition, Soto, to their crosstown rivals, the Mets. The Red Sox have been reducing payroll in recent years, leading to lackluster results, but they now seem motivated to reassert themselves as major players in the market. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have consistently performed well in the regular season from 2020 to 2023 but have faced disappointing ends to their campaigns, including narrow playoff misses and early exits. They followed up with a dismal 2024 season, finishing at the bottom of the AL East.

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As Fried's decision looms, it will be intriguing to see which team ultimately secures his services and how this move impacts the competitive landscape in the league. With the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays all vying for Fried, fans can expect an exciting conclusion to this free agency saga. Stay tuned for updates as we await Fried's final decision and the subsequent ripple effects across MLB.