Max Fried is already embracing his lofty Yankees pressure

When Juan Soto bolted for the Mets, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said one player was at the top of his wish list: Max Fried. The Yankees then signed Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal, the largest contract in MLB history for a left-handed pitcher. Fried was introduced at the Stadium during a news conference Wednesday as the centerpiece for this new-look Yankees team that’s also added Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams in trades since Soto’s departure. “We’re defending our [American League] title with a whole different crew,’’ Cashman said. And they’re not finished, as even with a new top-of-the-rotation lefty, a dominant closer and a slugger who can start either in center field or at first base, Cashman still has plenty of work to do, with the GM saying he remains engaged in the first base, second base and bullpen markets, because holes remain. But they are unlikely to make a more significant splash than bringing in Fried, who developed into a very effective starter with the Braves, albeit with some injury issues. The Yankees like the 30-year-old’s ability to throw a wide variety of pitches and the fact that he’s got a bit of a different look than some of his hard-throwing counterparts. However, he’s exceeded 175 innings pitched just once and has been bothered by forearm, soft-tissue and blister issues. The Yankees will take their chances. “We feel like we added a championship piece to the rotation,’’ manager Aaron Boone said. “We’re excited he wanted this opportunity,” Cashman said.“He wanted New York.

He wanted to come here to join an already formidable rotation.” Cashman called Fried an “artist on the mound,” as well as “a five-pitch pitcher who’s evolved over the course of time.… It’s a big contract, no doubt about that.” The soft-spoken Fried — who said his first thought about what to do after signing his huge contract was to get food for his dog Apollo — said he is looking forwa...