After missing out on Juan Soto, the big question now was how the Yankees would respond.
What does Plan B entail?
How quick would they act?
Well, here comes Max Fried.
Thank god Carlos Rodon is no longer this team’s number 2.
A priority this offseason was shrinking his responsibilities.
Max Fried solves that problem.
Eight for a guy on the wrong side of 30 is a ton, no doubt.
AAV is more than reasonable, but it’s long.
Fact of the matter is that Judge and Cole aren’t getting younger.
you’re able to’t worry about what Fried will look like when he’s 37 or 38.
You have to be aggressive right now.
Now you’re working with a Cole-Fried-Gil-Rodon-Schmidt rotation.
Assuming his arm stays in one piece, Fried should age well.
Unlike Burnes, he doesn’t rely on power stuff to get by.
He’s a heavy ground ball pitcher as well (54.2%) and lives off of weak contact.
That means the Yankees must make it a priority to address their infield defense.
A good defensive first baseman is a priority.
Jazz Chisholm can’t be your starting 3rd baseman on Opening Day.
Does that bring up the door for a Nolan Arenado trade?
I’d prefer to not go down that path, but it’s definitely on the table.
Possibly Hae Song Kim?
However way you slice it, the defense has to be better in 2025 across the board.
For Boston fans, you were in on Fried but not enough.
