Max Fried has signed an impressive eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees, making him the highest-paid left-handed pitcher in MLB history. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake believes Fried has room for improvement and is excited about the potential to enhance his pitching arsenal.

Fried, a two-time All-Star, chose the Yankees for their analytics and track record of developing pitchers. He is expected to complement Gerrit Cole in a strong rotation. The Yankees are also pursuing Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who is seen as a potential star.

Fried's signing comes as the Yankees aim for a championship, especially after Juan Soto opted for the New York Mets. The Yankees have also acquired Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger to strengthen their roster.