The tension between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox doesn’t take a break—even in spring training. On Tuesday, Steinbrenner Field turned into a battleground, featuring an injury-hit Yankees squad against a revamped Red Sox team eager to assert dominance.
Boston sent Walker Buehler to the mound, a name that still haunts Yankees fans after his commanding win in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series with the Dodgers. The Red Sox believed that pairing Buehler with newly acquired Garrett Crochet and star infielder Alex Bregman would mark the beginning of a resurgence in their storied rivalry against the Yankees.
However, Max Fried—Boston’s own offseason target—delivered the ultimate rebuttal, proving why the Yankees won the bidding war for his services. In his first taste of Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, Fried’s dominant outing sent a clear message: New York has their new ace.
Fried’s dominance a thorn in Red Sox’s side
Facing an energized Boston lineup, Fried delivered 4 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three. His 68-pitch outing showcased his signature ability to induce weak contact and keep the ball on the ground—something the Yankees are counting on in 2025. Most impressive was his efficiency in generating ground balls—13 in total—highlighting the effectiveness of his sinker.
“That’s who I am,” he said after the Yankees’ 4-4 tie with Boston. “I’m a ground-ball guy. If I can get predominantly ground balls and get some weak contacts, then things are going right.”
The left-hander mixed in six different pitches, featuring his sinker—a weapon that makes him exceptionally difficult to face. His four-seam fastball sat in the low-to-mid 90s, and 13 of his outs came via ground balls, reflecting the Yankees’ improved infield defense from last season.
The outing also served as Fried’s first taste of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, a clash that he will be at the center of in the American League East’s battle for supremacy.
Fried adds insult to injury: Yankees over Red Sox in free agency
After killing the Red Sox’s rivalry dream, he also dealt out on why he chose the Yankees over the Red Sox practically adding insult to Boston’s defeat. At one point during his free agency, both the Yankees and Red Sox were in serious contention to sign him. The Yankees ultimately won the battle, securing Fried on a historic eight-year, $218 million contract—the largest ever guaranteed to a left-handed pitcher in MLB history.—a move that positioned him as the new face of their rotation.
Boston’s offer reportedly stood at seven years, $190 million, but included deferrals, similar to how they structured their deal with Alex Bregman. The Red Sox were open to going higher, but ultimately, the Yankees closed the deal before Boston could counter.
“They were interested, and I met with the coaching staff and front office,” Fried said after the game. “Great people, and I definitely considered them. But at the end of the day, it was a gut feeling. This felt like the right place for me.”
“Everyone that I talked to was really great. At the end of the day, I don’t know if I could really put my finger on it. It was just more of a gut feeling. I felt like this was the right place for me,” he explained.
Unlike past Yankees-Red Sox free agency battles, Fried didn’t see it as an extension of the rivalry but rather a decision on where he could thrive.
“Every time I watch him, and even watching him over the last couple of years when we’ve had to see him, he’s just hard to figure out,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He does so many things with the ball—the way he sinks it, the cut on his fastball, the way he changes speeds. He’s unpredictable.”
When asked about choosing New York over Boston, Fried described a decision that came down to instinct rather than specific factors. He hinted that his move to New York wasn’t just about money—it was about fit, philosophy, and the future also.
Red Sox frustration grows after Fried drubbing on, off field
For Boston, Fried’s dominance was salt in the wound. After missing out on the left-hander, they quickly pivoted by trading for Garrett Crochet and signing Walker Buehler, but neither provided the immediate frontline impact that Fried did on March 18.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged how close they were to signing him:
“He’s a guy that makes you put the ball in play, so you have to play defense behind him,” Cora said. “We actually told him, ‘We’re going to be better defensively.’ [The deal] just didn’t happen, but he’s a good kid that got rewarded.”
The Red Sox haven’t won an AL East title since 2018, and their aggressive offseason was an attempt to reignite their standing among baseball’s elite. However, Fried’s decision to join the Yankees instead of Boston adds another layer of frustration to a Red Sox fanbase that has seen their team lose out on multiple top-tier free agents in recent years.
Looking ahead: Fried’s Yankees anchoring
Fried is expected to make one final spring start against the Tampa Bay Rays before preparing for his official Yankees debut on March 29 against the Milwaukee Brewers in The Bronx.
As the 2025 season unfolds, expect Fried to play a crucial role in the Yankees’ pursuit of another AL East crown—while Boston is left wondering what could have been.
For Yankees fans, the wait to see their new ace in regular-season action is nearly over. And if his dominant outing against the Red Sox is any indication, he’s more than ready to lead the charge in the AL East.
Fried’s stellar performance against the Red Sox in spring training may have been just an exhibition game, but it was symbolic of the Yankees’ power move this offseason. By landing one of baseball’s premier left-handers, New York didn’t just bolster their rotation—they also outmaneuvered their biggest rival.
The narrative surrounding Fried’s decision to don pinstripes instead of Red Sox colors adds an extra layer of intrigue to the already storied rivalry between these two franchises. His performances in head-to-head matchups will be scrutinized closely, as they could significantly impact the division race throughout the season.
This versatility makes Fried particularly valuable as the Yankees aim to navigate a season without their ace. His seamless integration into the team’s culture and immediate demonstration of his capabilities suggest that the Yankees’ substantial investment may yield impressive returns during the 2025 campaign.
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