When the New York Yankees signed Max Fried in December 2024 to an eight-year, $218 million contract, the largest deal ever given to a left-handed pitcher, they expected a complete performer on the mound. In 2025, he met that expectation by excelling as both a pitcher and defender.
Fried, 31, earned the 2025 American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award for pitchers. It is his fourth career Gold Glove and his first as a Yankee, following three straight wins with the Atlanta Braves from 2020 through 2022. He joined Ron Guidry (1982–86), Mike Mussina (2001, ’03, ’08), and Bobby Shantz (1957–60) as Yankees pitchers to win the award.
- Max Fried won his fourth career Gold Glove and his first with the Yankees after leading MLB pitchers with 10 defensive runs saved in 2025.
- He posted a league-best 19 wins, a 2.86 ERA, and 189 strikeouts, proving why New York gave him the biggest contract ever for a left-handed pitcher.
- Despite a mid-season blister setback and a seven-start slump, Fried finished strong and is set to anchor the Yankees’ 2026 rotation alongside rising arm Cam Schlittler.
Defensive Precision and On-Field Command
Fried led all Major League pitchers with 10 defensive runs saved, finishing three ahead of every other pitcher, and recorded seven pickoffs, second in the Majors behind Matthew Boyd’s 11. He also posted 39 putouts and 39 assists while allowing only six stolen bases. His fielding percentage was .925. Although he committed a career-high four errors, his defensive performance earned him the 2025 Sports Info Fielding Bible Award for best defensive pitcher before the Gold Glove announcement.
Fried’s command extended to the running game, where he consistently controlled baserunners with an effective pickoff move. He routinely handled comebackers and bunt attempts and displayed consistent awareness on the mound throughout the season.
Performance and Market Outlook
Fried led MLB with 19 wins and finished 19-5 with a .792 winning percentage. Over 195.1 innings in 32 starts, he recorded a 2.86 ERA and a career-high 189 strikeouts. His fielding and pitching output reinforced the Yankees’ expectation when they signed him to the richest left-handed pitcher contract in MLB history.
This level of performance also affected early betting markets for 2026. After the Dodgers won the 2025 World Series, sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars, opened Los Angeles as the top favorite for 2026. The Yankees opened second. Book listings placed the Dodgers around +350 to +375 and New York between +700 and +800, depending on the sportsbook.
Fried also appeared in Cy Young discussions during stretches of 2025. At one point during the season, he was listed around +750 in betting markets. By late September, he remained listed with betting interest before odds moved as other pitchers closed the season strong. A late-season board snapshot showed Fried at +10000 among award listings as ballots awaited announcement. He was not among the finalists for the award, which were Garrett Crochet, Tarik Skubal, and Hunter Brown. Books are expected to repost Cy Young odds later this winter.
Rotation Stability and Midseason Challenge
The season was not without challenges. Fried entered the All-Star break with a dominant 1.92 ERA but missed the Midsummer Classic due to a blister. After returning, he endured a seven-start stretch with a 6.00 ERA, stirring questions about durability before regaining form down the stretch. He finished 19–5 with a .792 winning percentage, the highest in MLB, and remained a consistent presence in a pitching staff missing Gerrit Cole all season due to elbow surgery.
Team Chemistry And Growing Leadership
The Yankees also saw Fried’s leadership expand. After acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon at the trade deadline, Fried praised his defensive hunger and intensity.
“He wants the ball,” Fried said in September. “He tells me every day, ‘Get me the ball. Get me as much as you can today.’ When you have someone over there, that’s really excited about fielding the ball and being a part of it, the plays he makes take a lot of pressure off of you. I am really happy that he’s over there.”
McMahon was a 2025 Gold Glove finalist but was edged out by Cincinnati’s Ke’Bryan Hayes. Still, his defensive presence was a meaningful addition for Fried and the pitching staff.
