Max Fried News Emerges After First Season With Yankees

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Nov 2, 2025 9:40 PM ET

The New York Yankees suffered an early postseason exit in 2025 despite the efforts of left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried. The 31-year-old southpaw just wrapped up his first year in New York. Fried stepped up in a huge way all season long, taking over as the team’s ace after Gerrit Cole suffered a season-ending injury.

Over 32 starts, Fried posted a 19–5 record with a 2.86 ERA. He struck out 189 batters over 195 1/3 innings, frequently inducing weak contact while generating whiffs at a high rate.

Fried lived up to his record-breaking eight-year, $218 million contract signed last offseason, the highest ever for a left-handed pitcher. His performance during the regular season not only stabilized the Yankees’ rotation but also reaffirmed his status as one of the best arms in the league.

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54)© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

On Sunday, Fried received another honor for his defense rather than his pitch arsenal. Rawlings Baseball announced the winners of the Gold Glove Awards, and Fried was named the American League recipient at pitcher.

Luis Severino of the Athletics and Jacob deGrom of the Texas Rangers were also finalists at the position, but Fried emerged victorious. MLB shared the results on Sunday, with Fried pictured in the graphic with the other American League winners. "Give it up for your 2025 AL @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Winners!" the league wrote on X.

Give it up for your 2025 AL @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Winners! pic.twitter.com/q9q63aizom
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2025

This marks the first time Fried has won the award as a Yankee and the fourth overall in his career. He previously earned three Gold Gloves during his time with the Atlanta Braves.

Fried’s ability to field his position continues to set the standard for pitchers across the league. He led all pitchers with 39 total assists and 10 defensive runs saved this season. According to MLB.com, DRS quantifies a player's overall defensive performance by measuring how many runs a defender saves, factoring in errors, range, arm strength and double-play ability.

While Fried continues to excel both on the mound and in the field, his focus now shifts to the offseason and maintaining his dominance. He won a World Series with the Braves in 2021, but his sights are now set on bringing another title to the Bronx. The Yankees face several pivotal decisions this winter. Fortunately, Fried will remain atop the rotation as the Yankees navigate a roster facing significant turnover.

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

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