Max Fried's Reported Offers to Red Sox and Rangers Prior to Revealing Yankees Deal

Boston was able to add another star left-hand pitcher into its rotation when Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe reported they planned on acquiring Garrett Crochet from Chicago White Sox for $42.5 Million, per McWilliams’ report. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the Red Sox will send multiple prospects back to Chicago as part of this deal. There had been reports that Toronto Blue Jays, along with Yankees and Red Sox were considered potential contenders for Fried’s services; according to Sherman though they never extended an offer directly. Rangers officials initially weren’t planning on going as financially far as Fried was seeking; but after team officials met him via Zoom video conference call they “decided to stretch.” Meanwhile, even as Yankees general manager Brian Cashman reeled from Juan Soto signing with New York Mets for 15 years and $765 million reported by Passan Sunday evening worked in their favor as it quickly pivoted toward Fried as their primary focus and informed his camp accordingly. Strategy proved fruitful with them getting both players they desired while keeping one away from major rivals.The Red Sox are taking steps towards becoming the American League equivalent of San Francisco Giants; actively courting top free agents without reaping the results in performance or rewards for doing so. They had interest in Soto as well, offering around $700 million over 15 years; the Giants may actually have taken an edge in negotiations due to being willing to offer top market money for him. Red Sox fans surely would have preferred not seeing Texas make gains at their expense, while Texas was able to adapt after losing Fried by signing Nathan Eovaldi to a three-year, $75 million deal, according to Passan. Eovaldi will continue pitching as part of a rotation which includes Jacob deGrom after recovering from Tommy John surgery kept him sidelined most of 2024.