Yankees Provide Optimistic Update on Max Fried

It is expected that Fried will need at least two or three rehab starts before the Yankees decide on bringing him back to the rotation, giving him a return timeline of late July or early August.

That timing lines up well with the MLB trade deadline, which lands on August 3. If Fried does not have any complications during his rehab assignment, his addition back to the rotation would likely be the biggest impact move the Yankees could make.

Before his injury, Fried was his usual solid self, with a 3.21 ERA and 1.005 WHIP in 61.2 innings of work. The southpaw, who joined the Yankees last season on an eight-year deal, led the major leagues with 19 wins in 2025 and came in fourth in AL Cy Young voting.

In his absence, the Yankees have been piecing together a rotation that has been anchored by Cam Schlittler and Gerrit Cole . Ryan Weathers and Will Warren have had their fair share of struggles, while Carlos Rodon briefly returned before heading back to the IL with elbow inflammation in early July.

The Yankees are positioned well to make the MLB playoffs, sitting second in the AL East division and holding the first AL Wild Card spot. Expect the Yankees to be cautious with their ace during his rehab assignment, as Fried has had a history of elbow injuries predating his stint in the Bronx.

New York also wants to ensure that Fried is healthy for the playoffs. A fully healthy trio of Fried, Cole, and Schlittler can certainly match up against any other trio in the American League, if not the majors. The next step of Fried's return to the Yankees starts on Friday evening at PNC Field against the Worcester Red Sox.