With Gerrit Cole out, the New York Yankees knew Max Fried had to step up — but few could have predicted just how dominant he’d be.
The six-year, $218 million contract they gave Fried last offseason was a major commitment, but it’s already looking like money well spent.
As the rest of the team has cooled off in recent weeks, Fried has found his groove — delivering consistent, ace-level performances to help keep the Yankees steady.
He’s become the reliable stopper the team has been searching for.
Amid a rotation filled with uncertainty, Fried has emerged as the dependable arm who ends slumps and delivers when it matters most.
He’s currently sporting an outstanding 1.92 ERA over 108 innings, with 104 strikeouts, a 0.94 WHIP, and elite control numbers.
Fried ranks in the top 9% of the league in walk rate and induces ground balls at a 53.8% clip — an ideal profile for pitching in Yankee Stadium.
He’s not just preventing traffic on the bases — he’s doing it with efficiency and limiting damage even when hitters make contact.
Fried’s pitch arsenal is both lethal and impeccably balanced. His cutter has limited opponents to a .186 batting average, while his sinker isn’t far behind at .233.
Even his fourth option, the fastball, has been incredibly effective, holding hitters to a staggering .137 average.
With that kind of variety and effectiveness, it often feels like Fried is pitching with an unfair advantage—especially when he gets ahead in the count.
He’s not overpowering batters with velocity, but instead suffocating them with soft contact and swings out of the zone.
Wednesday night was yet another showcase of his brilliance. Facing the Reds, Fried tossed seven scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and striking out seven.
It was a clear reminder of why the Yankees invested heavily in him — and why he’s currently the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award.
Whenever the Yankees have needed stability, Fried has delivered with poise, precision, and results.
That victory was crucial in steadying the team after a rocky 10-game span in which they dropped six contests and saw their division lead dwindle.
Right now, the Yankees need Fried more than ever.
At 46–34, their grip on first place in the AL East has slipped to just a one-game edge over the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays.
What once looked like a comfortable lead just two weeks ago has quickly vanished, and the pressure is ramping up.
Next on the schedule is a three-game series against the struggling Oakland Athletics — a golden opportunity the Yankees can’t afford to waste.
With the offense misfiring and the bullpen looking shaky, Fried brings exactly what the team is lacking: reliability and star-level performance.
With each outing, the deal looks more like a steal.
Gerrit Cole’s Tommy John surgery had the potential to derail the Yankees’ season — but Fried has kept that disaster at bay.
His $218 million contract raised eyebrows given his age (31), but it’s fast proving to be one of the smartest moves of the offseason.
Every contending team needs a steadying force when adversity hits, and Fried has stepped into that role seamlessly as the Yankees continue to search for consistency.
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