Yankees agree to record-setting contract with Max Fried, double down on rotation

DALLAS — After losing Juan Soto’s generational bat to the Mets, the Yankees chose to fortify a strength.

The pennant-winning team has agreed to an eight-year, $218 million contract with longtime Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried, according to multiple reports. The deal is the largest guarantee in baseball history for a southpaw and the fourth-largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history.

Fried’s pact also includes a no-trade clause, but no opt-outs or deferrals, per the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. Sherman added that the Texas Rangers and rival Boston Red Sox were also late contenders for Fried.

Fried’s average annual value of $27.25 million is slightly higher than that of new teammate…