Max Fried Nears Decision: Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays in Mix

We may soon be getting an announcement on the status of prized free-agent pitcher Max Fried.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic released some nuggets of information on Fried Tuesday afternoon. According to the famed reporter, Fried looks as if he’ll be announcing his team of choice by Thursday.

Not only that, but there appears to be a three-team race for Fried’s services between the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The aforementioned three clubs were considered by Juan Soto before he elected to sign with the Mets. A pivot from the slugging outfielder to Fried is unsurprising. The Los Angeles native is a multi-time All-Star/Gold Glove Award winner.

Fried, 30, has power stuff from the left side — and his underlying numbers give off the impression that he can be a very good No. 2 starter, or perhaps even an ace for a contending club.

Of the three in question, Toronto probably makes the least sense. The Blue Jays don’t appear to be in playoff contention at this point. The futures of both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are still in question. Toronto seems like a club wanting to spend — and will throw cash at someone hoping they’ll sign. He’d be the best starter for the Jays immediately.

Boston needs a left-handed starter to help balance out a rotation heavy with righties. Battle-tested in postseason play, Fried would give Boston a true shot-in-the-arm when combating the Yankees and others in a wide-open American League.

The Yankees have a strong rotation at this point with the likes of Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Carlos Rodon, and Luis Gil. As we saw in the playoffs, however, one can never have enough starting pitching.

Adding Fried to this group would give the Yankees the best rotation in the American League, and perhaps the best rotation in all of Major League Baseball sans the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York is surely motivated to spend in the wake of losing Soto to the crosstown Mets. Fried checks a lot of boxes, and the Yankees could even opt to deal another starter for some hitting if Fried comes on board.