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Max Fried had classy All-Star gesture for rival pitcher

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jul 13, 2025 1:11 PM ET

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried had a pretty neat gesture for one of his rivals when it came to the upcoming MLB All-Star Game.

Fried was among the American League pitchers in contention to start Tuesday’s All-Star Game. According to Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, however, Fried reached out to him personally to offer him the chance to start instead.

Skubal said he had deferred to Fried on the offer, but the Yankees pitcher was insistent that Skubal start the game.

“It was actually a really cool conversation. It’s a very professional thing to do, and I’ve got a ton of respect for guys that do stuff like that,” Skubal said.

Tarik Skubal said he recently got a call from Yankees starter Max Fried.

"He asked me if I wanted to start (the ASG)."

Skubal deferred to Fried, especially since Fried had pitched for eight seasons in Atlanta. But Fried was insistent: "I think you deserve it. I was just…
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) July 13, 2025

Skubal may well have been the starting pitcher anyway, though Fried made it a tough choice. The Yankee lefty is 11-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 20 starts, while Skubal is 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA.

Skubal did miss out on the start last year, with Corbin Burnes getting the nod ahead of him. It would have been tough to deny him the honor for a second consecutive season.

Fried has been very impressive in his first season with the Yankees after signing an eight-year, $218 million contract during the offseason. His campaign has even included a near no-hitter. He should have plenty of other chances to start All-Star games in the future as long as he keeps putting up big numbers in New York.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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