The New York Yankees’ 2025 season was supposed to be about dominance, a return to the World Series, and proving their offseason spending was worth it. Instead, even before a single regular-season pitch, the Yankees are in damage-control mode. Gerrit Cole is out indefinitely after undergoing Tommy John surgery. And now, Giancarlo Stanton’s mysterious elbow issues could sideline him for the entire season. Luis Gil, a potential rotation piece, is nursing a strained lat. Suddenly, the Yankees’ high-powered machine looks like it’s running on fumes.

Enter Max Fried.

This is exactly why the Yankees shelled out $218 million over eight years to pry Fried away from Atlanta. At the time, it was seen as a luxury—pairing one ace with another. But now, it’s a necessity.

With Cole probably done for the year, Fried doesn’t just need to be good; he needs to be elite. Thirty-plus starts. Seven-inning outings. Postseason-caliber dominance in the Bronx. Anything less, and the Yankees’ championship hopes could unravel.

Fried, 30, has long been one of baseball’s most efficient starters. He doesn’t rack up the eye-popping strikeout numbers of a Cole or a Spencer Strider, but his ability to induce weak contact, control the game’s tempo, and keep his ERA in the low 3.00s makes him invaluable. The Yankees love that steadiness—especially right now because they desperately need it.

The Yankees still have the talent to contend. Judge can carry an offense, Fried can anchor a rotation, and Devin Williams gives them a lockdown closer. But the margin for error is razor-thin now. One more injury, one more unexpected setback, and things could spiral quickly.

So, now, it all comes back to Fried. He’s no longer the co-ace—he’s THE ace. And if the Yankees are going to survive this storm, they’ll need every ounce of his brilliance.

Trade or trust? The Yankees’ dilemma

If Max Fried were to go down with an injury, the Yankees would be forced to turn to their farm system for reinforcements—a risky proposition given their current lack of upper-level pitching depth.

Right-hander Will Warren, one of their top pitching prospects, impressed this spring and is likely to be the first call-up if disaster strikes. However, his brief MLB debut in 2024 (10.32 ERA in six appearances) raised concerns about whether he’s ready to handle a full-time rotation spot. The Yankees also have Clayton Beeter and Chase Hampton in Triple-A waiting for their chance to shine on the stage. However, Beeter faces challenges with command while Hampton still needs experience beyond Double A levels.

Depending on unproven pitchers is not the strategy for a team aiming for the World Series title. But the Yankees might be left with no other option. With Luis Gil already sidelined for at least two months and Nestor Cortes battling inconsistency, New York would be walking a tightrope if they had to depend on multiple rookie starters. The front office might need to fast-track a prospect or explore external options via trade or free agency, but either path carries risks.

Think the Yankees can weather the storm if disaster strikes—or will their season collapse before it ever truly begins?