What Alex Cora Told New Yankees Ace In Free Agency Meeting

If Max Fried proves to be a major thorn in the Red Sox’s side this season — and beyond — it could sting Boston a little extra.

The Red Sox were interested in Fried over the offseason when Craig Breslow and company sought to improve the club’s pitching staff. Boston went as far as meeting with the star left-hander, who ultimately decided to sign with the rival New York Yankees.

The Sox, who vastly improved their rotation through the additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, received an up-close look at Fried on Tuesday when the longtime rivals met for a spring training game. After the exhibition, Cora recalled meeting virtually with the southpaw before he opted for pinstripes.

“It was good to talk to him and understand what drives him and how he operates on the mound,” Cora told reporters Tuesday, per MassLive. “He knew what he was talking about because he mentioned our defense. It’s a guy who they’re going to put the ball in play (against) so you’re going to have to play defense behind him. We actually told him we’re going to be better defensively.

“It just didn’t happen, but it’s a good kid who got rewarded. He has been on the big stage and has been successful. They got a good one.”

Fried admitted he “definitely considered” signing with the Red Sox, whose contingency at the aforementioned meeting featured “really nice, great people.” But the two-time All-Star now will be forced to deal with a Boston lineup that significantly improved over the offseason, most notably via the addition of Alex Bregman.

That would have been a high-pressure job for Fried regardless of circumstances, but there now is even more weight on the 31-year-old’s shoulders with Gerrit Cole out for the season.