Yankees Land Big Fish: How Fried’s Contract Impacts the MLB Pitching Market
The MLB hot stove just got a whole lot hotter! The New York Yankees made a major splash, signing left-hander Carlos Rodon to a massive eight-year, $232 million contract. This deal surpasses what David Price earned a decade ago and marks the biggest in history for a left-handed starter.
“Long deal for a pitcher,” said a National League executive. “Long deal for any player, but definitely a long deal for a pitcher. It all comes down to health on him.”
This move positions the Yankees to potentially seek a trade, possibly involving young arms like Clarke Schmidt, to address other needs.
Yankees’ Roster Moves & Future Plans
The Yankees currently boast a stacked rotation, featuring aces like Gerrit Cole and the newly acquired Fried. Analysts speculate a trade involving a young starter might be on the horizon, with Schmidt being a potential trade chip. This could allow the Yankees to acquire power hitters like Nolan Arenado or Cody Bellinger.
Impact on the MLB Pitching Market
The reverberations of Fried’s contract are being felt across the league. With star pitchers like Corbin Burnes remaining unsigned, the market for top arms is set for an intense battle.
“It seems to set them up to deal an arm for something else,” an AL executive said of the Yankees.
The Yankees currently have seven starting pitchers: Cole, Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman.
One scenario, according to sources, would be for the Yankees to move one of their young starters – most likely Schmidt – as part of a trade package to land either Nolan Arenado or Cody Bellinger. Schmidt is arbitration-eligible for three more years, while Gil – the AL Rookie of the Year – has four years of club control remaining and won’t be eligible for arbitration until next offseason.
Less than two hours after Fried went to the Yankees, another big arm came off the board, as Nathan Eovaldi agreed to a three-year, $75 million deal to return to the Rangers. Eovaldi had been seen as a Plan B for the Red Sox after Boston missed out on Fried, but now the Sox must pivot again to find another arm for their rotation.
The recent deals for Fried and Blake Snell (five years, $182 million) suggest that Corbin Burnes, another top pitcher currently on the market, could command an even bigger contract.
“What do the Fried and Eovaldi signings mean for the rest of the pitching market?
Fried and Blake Snell (five years, $182 million) have both signed nine-figure contracts this winter, but four-time All-Star and 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes appears poised to top both of their deals, with two executives predicting that the right-hander could receive more than $240 million over eight years.
According to sources, the two teams expected to be most aggressive on Burnes are the Blue Jays and Giants, with Toronto considered the favorite. The Blue Jays were prepared to spend $700 million on Juan Soto, and Toronto was among the teams in on Fried before he went to the Yankees. If Toronto – which faces the loss of Chris Bassitt after next season and Kevin Gausman following the 2026 campaign – is looking to spend big on an ace, Burnes may be their best and last hope.
The Giants have already made one big splash this offseason, signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal. San Francisco is said to be in the market for a frontline starter, but two industry sources were skeptical that the Giants will outbid the Blue Jays if Toronto is determined to sign Burnes.
Other Pitching Moves and Rumors
Beyond the big names, there’s plenty of movement in the pitching market:
- Free agents like Andrew Heaney, Jose Quintana, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander remain available.
- Potential trade targets include Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease, Sonny Gray and Jesus Luzardo.
Stay tuned as the MLB hot stove simmers and the rest of the offseason unfolds!
What are your thoughts on these big pitching moves? Let us know in the comments below!