The New York Yankees, a franchise that has taken baseball to new heights, kicked off the season with a good 21-16 record. But what’s more intensifying this season are the trade negotiations that have been the talk of this season. Now, amid the trade rumors surrounding the Yankees targeting a starting pitcher—Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara—the Yankees’ coach has dropped a major bomb about their $218 million star, who has come through with another gem. Guessed the name?

We are talking about Max Fried, whose performance is not only relieving any doubts but also igniting hopes of a better and brighter future for the Yankees. Not to forget that the Yankees suffered a major setback when Gerrit Cole was injured, following which he underwent Tommy John surgery, prompting him to wait until 2026 to make a comeback. But they do have a solution now, don’t they?

 Despite losing a significant portion of the starting rotation due to injuries, Matt Blake is happy with the way things are going, especially the way Max Fried is open to new ideas. Fried has been put to the test by going through several adjustments, with Blake saying, “Keep going. What do you got? Keep giving it to me.” And Fried did give his best with a 1.05 ERA across the eight starts he made in a single season.

Coming to the Bronx on an eight-year deal is itself special and Fried didn’t disappoint. According to Blake, Fried has improved a lot, be it his sinker that has dropped below by four inches, enabling him to reach a career-high 18.8 percent or his curveball that had some drop as well. However, his curveball has been traveling much faster at 75.6 mph. Another noticeable aspect is that while most pitchers use their sweepers against the same-sided batters, Fried was found to use the sweepers against the right-handers. But that’s not all!

Max Fried has been exceptional in mixing up the curveball, sinker, and sweepers. It gives a clear idea of how well he reads the pitches. That’s what Blake thinks too, as he said, “He just was interested in exploring some of the data and tech that is available now. That’s what we’ve leaned in towards. Just really understanding how the pitches are moving, why they’re moving, and what his body is doing to make those pitches move.”

Given the way Fried is going through rigorous sessions, Blake also shed light on the importance of extra rest days and throwing programs in between, which can somewhat reduce his workload while allowing the Yankees to bring out the best of him. Nevertheless, Fried is a much different character now, and we all hope that he continues to perform excellently in the upcoming games, too.

Is the $218M star a good replacement made by the Yankees?

Although Max Fried didn’t pitch during the game between the Yankees and the Athletics, he remains a key part of the game plan for the Yankees this season. His skills and performance on the field not only heighten the chances of the team winning, but also his appearance has become highly anticipated nowadays. And why not?

During the game between the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres, Max Fried delivered a masterstroke, combining both power and composure. Fried managed to allow only a single hit ahead of yielding a run in the fourth inning. The 31-year-old pitched seven innings, giving just five hits without any walks while making eight strikeouts. That’s enough to say about his excellent control over the pitches and the unwavering focus that set the tone for what became a historic start to this 2025 MLB season.

Fried stands with a 6-0 record, entering his eighth start, and his excellent 1.05 ERA and 0.910 WHIP further testify to his value for the Yankees. Not to forget his 47 strikeouts, which is a record in itself,f and no Yankees player has ever achieved such a feat earlier. That says a lot about how the Yankees are reaping the benefits of their significant investment in Fried and hope that he never disappoints, too.

What are your thoughts on Max Fried’s impressive performance, and do you think he is a good replacement for Gerrit Cole?