Max Fried signed with the New York Yankees this past offseason for the money, as well as a new opportunity for him in the second half of his career. While he can have success in New York, Yankees fans will quickly learn what Atlanta Braves fans know well.

On the December afternoon Max Fried was formally fitted for pinstripes, the left-hander spoke about looking forward to pairing with Gerrit Cole at the top of the Yankees' rotation, saying that he would be “excited to sit and watch every single one of his starts.

While the loss of long-time ace Gerrit Cole has no doubt harmed the New York Yankees' hopes in 2025 and stripped them from a steadying presence at the front of the rotation, they do have another ace ready to step into that particular breach.