TAMPA, Fla. — Fresh off his first start against the Red Sox since joining the Yankees, Max Fried didn’t make much of his introduction to a storied rivalry.

After all, the lefty’s initial taste came in an exhibition game, as Fried twirled 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Boston at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday.

“It’s early,” Fried said after a 4-4 tie in which he totaled two hits, zero walks, three strikeouts and 68 pitches.

While there was no winner in the spring training contest, the Yankees beat out the Red Sox and others for Fried’s services over the offseason. The pitcher inked an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Bombers two days after Juan Soto bolted for the Mets. Fried’s deal is the richest guarantee a southpaw has ever gotten.

Boston meanwhile, reportedly offered Fried $190 million over seven years. So did the Rangers.

“You hear the little whispers,” said Aaron Boone, who didn’t brag about landing Fried during the winter meetings to his close friend, Red Sox skipper Alex Cora. “There’s people in the lobby, or in and around dinner, I’m hearing this.”

Asked about the Red Sox, Fried said he “definitely considered them” after meeting with coaches and front office personnel via Zoom. Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, a high school teammate at Harvard-Westlake in the Los Angeles area, helped Boston recruit Fried as well.

“He definitely had a hand in it,” Fried said.

Ultimately, the Yankees made the highest offer, but Fried didn’t consider the context of two sworn enemies bidding against one another. He just wanted to make the best decision for himself.

That, along with an extra $28 million and an additional year, put the Yanks over the top.

“Everyone that I talked to was really great,” Fried said. “At the end of the day, I don’t know if I could really put my finger on it. It was just more of a gut feeling. I felt like this is the right place for me.”

So far that’s appeared to be the case.

Fried, scheduled to pitch the second game of the regular season, has been described as a “sponge” by Boone ever since the Yankees had their own enlightening Zoom over the offseason. It’s been easy to see why, as Fried has been frequently spotted picking the brains of teammates, coaches and guest instructors like Ron Guidry, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte this spring.

The Yankees will also need Fried to be an ace, as he’s their de facto No. 1 with Gerrit Cole sidelined by Tommy John surgery. He’s looked the part, recording a 2.53 ERA this spring, though it’s always best to not make much of stats this time of year.

“This is just more about me getting ready and trying to do what I need to do to get ready for the year,” Fried said. “The results were good, but that wasn’t what I was out for.”

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