MLB News: Max Fried’s Reported Red Sox and Rangers Offers Ahead of Yankees Deal Announcement | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Before the New York Yankees signed Max Fried to the richest contract ever given to a left-handed pitcher in MLB history, the two-time All-Star weighed offers from the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers.

Per Joel Sherman of the New York PostThe Red Sox and Rangers each made Fried a seven-year, $190 million offer.

Sherman noted that the Rangers’ offer was very attractive because there are no state taxes in Texas, so $190 million from them would be worth more than $190 million from the Red Sox.

Boston expressed a “willingness” to increase its offer, but the proposal also included a payment deferral.

WEEI’s Rob Bradford added that Fried “probably” would have accepted the Red Sox’ offer if it had matched the eight years and $218 million he received from the Yankees.

Boston was able to add a quality left-handed pitcher to their rotation. Julian McWilliams des Boston Globe reported that the Red Sox would acquire Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. ESPN’s Jeff Passan added that the Red Sox will send several prospects back to Chicago as part of the deal.

There were rumors that the Toronto Blue Jays, along with the Yankees and Red Sox, were the three finalists for Fried’s services.

According to Sherman, the Blue Jays never got to the point where they made an offer to the left-handed pitcher. The Rangers originally didn’t plan to go as far financially as Fried envisioned, but they “decided to stretch” after team officials had a Zoom meeting with him.

Even though the Yankees were still reeling from Juan Soto’s decision to sign with the New York Mets for 15 years and the $765 million reported by Passan on Sunday night, the timing of this news worked in their favor.

Sherman reported that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman “moved quickly” to pursue Fried and also told his camp that he was the team’s top priority. The strategy paid off as they not only got their man, but also kept him away from their biggest rival.

The Red Sox are starting to turn into the AL version of the San Francisco Giants. They’re looking for top-tier free agents with nothing to show for it. They were also interested in Soto, but their offer was around $700 million over 15 years.

In fact, the Giants might even have the edge in negotiations because they were at least willing to pay top market money for a star player. They just have trouble getting anyone to take their money.

Adding Crochet via trade significantly takes away the downside of not having Fried, although Red Sox fans would certainly have preferred not to see the Yankees improve at their expense.

Texas was able to pivot after losing Fried by bringing back Nathan Eovaldi on a three-year, $75 million contract, according to Passan. The right-hander will remain in a rotation hoping to get a full season from Jacob deGrom after missing most of 2024 due to recovery from Tommy John surgery.