Yankees Announce Max Fried News on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 5:43 PM ET

The New York Yankees’ season came to an end earlier this October in an ALDS loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, cutting short their playoff run just one year after reaching the World Series. As the team regroups for 2026, a quick turnaround remains the goal.

Despite the early exit, Max Fried emerged as a clear bright spot in his first year in the Bronx. The 31-year-old left-hander stepped into the ace role after Gerrit Cole was ruled out for the season and delivered all year long. Fried lived up to his record-breaking eight-year, $218 million contract, posting a 2.86 ERA, 19–5 record and 1.101 WHIP over 32 starts. His 19 wins led all of MLB. Fried also collected 189 strikeouts over 195 1/3 innings of work. Although he is known for inducing weak contact, he still has a strong arsenal capable of generating whiffs.

Fried struggled in his final outing of the year during the playoffs against Toronto, but outside of that, he consistently delivered strong performances.

Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54)Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

As Max Fried gears up for his second season in pinstripes, the Yankees announced that the left-hander has been honored for his defensive excellence.

Fried was named the recipient of the Fielding Bible Award for pitchers by Sports Info Solutions, recognizing him as the top defensive pitcher in baseball. The team celebrated the achievement on X. “Congratulations to Max Fried on winning the @SportsInfo_SIS Fielding Bible Award! The honor recognizes Max as the top defensive pitcher in baseball ," the Yankees wrote.

Congratulations to Max Fried on winning the @SportsInfo_SIS Fielding Bible Award! The honor recognizes Max as the top defensive pitcher in baseball pic.twitter.com/03mnGwuXLO
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 23, 2025

The Fielding Bible Award is a highly respected honor, with only one winner selected per position across both leagues. Sports Info Solutions announced the 2025 recipients on Thursday, marking the 20th year of the award. Winners are chosen by a panel of experts who consider statistical analysis, visual evaluation and any other factors they find relevant.

For Fried, it is another accolade in a standout debut season with New York. The left-hander has also earned three Gold Glove Awards over his nine-year career and continues to excel defensively. Fried is still chasing a second World Series title and he brings valuable championship experience to the Yankees after winning it all with the Atlanta Braves in 2021.

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

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