MAX FRIED IS THE CROWN JEWEL

The New York Yankees absolutely won the offseason, and it wasn’t even close. They made some bold moves, but none bigger than acquiring ace left-hander Max Fried, who immediately elevates their rotation to elite status. Let’s be real—offloading Juan Soto was a massive win. Sure, he’s a talented bat, but no team should be locking in a player for 15 years. Steve Cohen might want that contract, but he’ll regret it. The Yankees, on the other hand, made the right call, choosing long-term flexibility and dominant pitching over an albatross deal.

And with Fried? They didn’t just improve—they leveled up.

Fried, 31, has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball since debuting with the Braves in 2017. His 73-36 record and career 3.07 ERA speak for themselves, and he’s had multiple seasons with an ERA under 3.00. Simply put, he’s the kind of arm that changes everything.

The Yankees got their first real look at him during live batting practice on Saturday, and manager Aaron Boone came away thrilled.

"Liked his intent, focus, compete. Stuff’s really good. He’s in a really good spot," Boone said. Always, Boone says nothing we didn't already know. 

Gerrit Cole is just as excited. Speaking to Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com, Cole raved about his new teammate.

"An excellent addition, a unique talent. There’s a lot of things he can do with the baseball, and he’s a highly regarded teammate as well."

Fried also showcased his signature curveball—a weapon he credits to former Major League outfielder Reggie Smith, who mentored him as a young pitcher.

"He showed me a bunch of different grips, taught me how to throw it, and I’ve kind of been able to take it from there," Fried said.

With Fried now in the mix, this rotation is straight-up dangerous. A 1-2 punch of Cole and Fried is the best in baseball. Add Carlos Rodón and Luis Gil to the mix? That’s a serious World Series-caliber rotation. I really believe this.

And to think—it all came together because the Yankees were smart enough to move on from Soto. This team got better, and they didn’t mortgage their future to do it. The Bronx Bombers are back, and this time, it’s built on dominant, lights-out pitching.

This is the kind of offseason that wins championships.