MAJOR-BREAKING: Significant Boost As The Yankees’ Season Could Have Been DOOMED Without This ONE Signing

After the New York Yankees missed out on Juan Soto to the New York Mets, there were expectations they’d pivot and try to sign a big hitter, like Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, or Anthony Santander. However, they surprised everyone by signing Max Fried, one of the top pitchers available, to an eight-year, $218 million contract.

Although the Yankees had a gap in their lineup after missing out on Soto, they had put together one of the strongest pitching rotations in the American League, if not all of Major League Baseball. With a dominant one-two punch of Gerrit Cole and Fried, plus a staff including reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt, their rotation looked nearly unbeatable.

Unfortunately, just weeks before Opening Day, the rotation was already in disarray. Gil was sidelined by a lat strain, expected to keep him out for several months, and then Cole was diagnosed with an elbow injury that will require Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the entire season. What was once an elite rotation now looks much weaker. In hindsight, it’s a good thing the Yankees signed Fried.

Fried might not be Cole, but he’s an ace in his own right. The 31-year-old had an impressive 2024 season with the Atlanta Braves, making 29 starts with a 3.25 ERA over 174.1 innings, earning a spot in the NL All-Star team for the second time.

This stellar season was typical for Fried, who holds a career 3.07 ERA over eight MLB seasons, compared to Cole’s career ERA of 3.18. While Fried doesn’t have a Cy Young Award like Cole, he has come close, finishing as the runner-up in 2022.

When healthy, Fried is among the top pitchers in the game. Although he’s dealt with injuries in the past, he’s healthy now and should be ready to excel in his first season with the Yankees.

Though the Yankees’ rotation may not be what they envisioned, imagine how much worse it could’ve been had they opted for a position player instead of Fried. A rotation featuring Rodon, Schmidt, and a potentially unhappy Marcus Stroman wouldn’t inspire much confidence.

Now, with Fried added to the mix, the Yankees’ pitching staff looks much stronger. They may need to pursue another starter at the trade deadline if they hope to make a World Series run, but having Fried on board will keep them competitive enough to consider that possibility.

While the Yankees find themselves in a challenging situation, it’s hard to imagine their season still being viable without Fried. If the left-hander delivers on expectations, the Yankees will have a legitimate ace and a shot at contention in what is shaping up to be a weaker American League.