Could Max Fried Be the Yankees Ace in the Hole?
There was fear and panic throughout the New York Yankee universe when the news broke that Gerrit Cole announced he was having Tommy John surgery and would forfeit the 2025 season. However, as if in anticipation of this happening, the Yankees made the move that may have saved their season. The surprise acquisition of Max Fried has proven to be a calming influence on the team, as every fifth day, they know they have an ace they didn't know they needed. At 6-0 with an ERA of 1.01 in six starts, Fried has led the Yankees to the top of the AL East and the third-best record going into May.
Max Fried is what he has always been. A World Series Champion with the Atlanta Braves, and at 31, a top liner who was expected to be a reliable number two, along with Cole. However, Fried is now the number one, and he appears to have welcomed the challenge. As the season progresses, his repertoire of four-seam pitches that range in velocity and look allows him to go through a lineup much like a passenger ship cutting smoothly through the ocean. His Orlando Bloom mustache emits a pirate vibe, and his silent effectiveness an air of intimidation.
It appeared that the Fried move was another response to the failure to retain Juan Soto. It implied that the Yankees were moving to feature starting pitching and improved defense as the formula to attain victories instead of relying on power only. As a ground ball pitcher, Fried has been exactly that. He has only given up one home run and given the Yankees length averaging seven innings per start. He just does not get hit often, as his history indicates. Fried is also a superior athlete, which helps his defense as well as himself. He has won two Gold Gloves at his position to go along with his two all-star appearances.
Fried is the definition of a seasoned professional entering his prime years as a pitcher. A man who sports a lifetime 79-36 record and 2.97 ERA is the real deal when it comes to hurlers. The Yankees finally have a pitcher outside Cole who has lived up to his career numbers, carrying an average staff in April. Finally, Fried is getting some support with Carlos Rodon, who is rounding out to his best form as of late and making a case to be the original number two they signed three years ago. The Yankees have a one-two punch that can carry them into the heart of the season with the hope that a return by Luis Gil and a healthy Clarke Schmidt can make the staff whole by October. Fried has gone from a well-paid afterthought to the cornerstone of the staff, which he is not unfamiliar with. The game is on, and everyone in the American League has good cards. The Yankees are just happy they have an ace in the hole every time out.
