Can the Boston Red Sox take down two of their division rivals at the negotiating table?
The American League East is always hotly competitive, but this winter, the animosity could reach a fever pitch.
So far, three of the five teams in the division--the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays--are trying to establish themselves as the top dogs of the free-agent pool. They're all in the hunt for superstar outfielder Juan Soto, but that's hardly the only name on all three teams' minds.
The Red Sox also need starting pitching, and they seem to be drawn to former Atlanta Braves star Max Fried. With Blake Snell off the board, Fried is undoubtedly the top lefty starter still available, and the Red Sox would be fortunate to grab him.that the Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays were the top three contenders to land Fried, with the San Francisco Giants possibly entering the mix as well.
"While suggesting that the Max Fried sweepstakes is an AL East-only affair would be an exaggeration, interest continues to come from Boston, New York and Toronto. San Francisco could be in the mix, too," Passan said.Fried, 31, is an obvious target for the Red Sox for several reasons.
Passan's ESPN coworker David Schoenfield recently predicted that Fried would get a $175 million contract, the second-biggest deal Boston would have ever handed out to a starting pitcher. If they're serious about beating out the Yankees and Blue Jays, though, that may have to be the starting offer.Jackson Roberts is a former Division III All-Region DH who now writes and talks about sports for a living.
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