By all accounts, Max Fried is not joining the Yankees as a finished product but as a high-end project who wants to keep growing.

The Yankees believe new pitcher Max Fried has "room to evolve" after signing an eight-year, $218 million deal. Added pitching coach Matt Blake: "We like that."

Max Fried had not expected to wind up in pinstripes. The left-hander, who agreed to a $218 million, eight-year contract, says that "When the Yankees say they’re interested in you, you perk up and you listen.