Did you know that current Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito and newly signed New York Yankees hurler Max Fried used to be teammates?
Not only were they on the same team alongside another 2024-25 free agent Jack Flaherty, but they were — and still are — friends. Giolito shared on the "Baseball Isn’t Boring" podcast that playing for the same team in the big leagues was a dream he shared with Fried. Giolito tried to recruit his former teammates to join him in Boston.
Unfortunately, a reunion between Giolito and Fried won't happen with the Red Sox. Instead, Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees. Even though Fried and Giolito will play on opposite sides of one of MLB's most storied rivalries, the two friends stay close.
Max Fried called his friend and former high school teammate Lucas Giolito before his Yankees signing went public
Lucas Giolito on how he found out that Max Fried was headed to the Bronx https://t.co/LwGxRfmgPv pic.twitter.com/SiSVWitpz8
— Baseball Isn’t Boring (@BBisntBoring) December 30, 2024
Giolito appeared again on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast following the signing of his friend Fried, who told the Red Sox pitcher firsthand that he wouldn't be joining him in a rotation any time soon.
“He gave me a call immediately, like before anything went public,” Giolito said. "...At the end of the day, you can’t blame him for his decision. He made the best decision for him and his family. He’s going to a great organization so good for him.”
Giolito then followed up by explaining the courtesy behind the move. He discussed the trade-off between finding information out firsthand as a player rather than finding out from social media or a breaking news story.
Giolito also made it clear there were no hard feelings following the signing. When asked if he tried to talk Fried out of his record-breaking contract with the Yankees, Giolito laughed and said, “You can’t talk someone out of $218 million.”