The signing bonus Yankees gave Max Fried in free agency

The signing bonus Yankees gave Max Fried in free agency

The Yankees wooed Max Fried with a big chunk of money up front. 

The southpaw starter will get a $20 million signing bonus as part of his deal with the Bronx Bombers, paid in two $10 million installments, one immediately and one next year, according to a Wednesday report by The Post’s Joel Sherman

The big bonus is part of Fried’s eight-year, $218 million pact with the Yankees.


Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning in Game 2 of an NL Wild Card Series baseball game Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in San Diego.Max Fried throws a pitch during the Braves’ loss to the Padres in Game 2 of their wild-card series last season. AP

Fried is set to receive $12 million in 2025 and 2026 before earning $29 million annually over the last six seasons of the deal.

The 30-year-old’s deal beats out David Price’s $217 million contract he signed with the Red Sox in 2015 for the biggest for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. 

The Fried signing came just days after the Yankees lost superstar Juan Soto, whose deal also included a massive signing bonus, to the Mets.

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Soto got $75 million of his total $765 million upfront, allowing him to save almost $8 million in state taxes

Blake Snell, who signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers, got a $52 million signing bonus. 

Neither Fried nor Soto’s deals included the type of deferred money Snell received from the Dodgers, who have made a habit of pushing big money into future years. 


Max FriedMax Fried got the biggest contract in MLB history for a lefty pitcher. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Snell’s deal includes $60 million of deferred money, bringing the franchise’s deferred compensation ledger to nearly $1 billion, far outpacing the rest of the league.