Yankees' Aaron Boone Maps Out Max Fried Timeline
All of a sudden the New York Yankees are in need of another starting pitcher after Carlos Rodon went down with left elbow inflammation on Friday.
Luckily, work horse Max Fried is progressing well in his rehab. On Sunday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that Fried faced hitters again at Yankee Stadium, throwing 36 pitches. Fried will throw another live bullpen session on Thursday or Friday before beginning a rehab assignment.
Max Fried faced hitters again today at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Boone said the plan is another live BP on Thursday or Friday before going on a rehab assignment.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 5, 2026
Getting Fried back will be a major boost for a Yankees' rotation, which has the fourth best ERA in baseball (3.54).
Fried has been on the injured list since May 14 with a bone bruise in his left elbow. He has pitched to a 3.21 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 10 starts (61.2 innings) this season.
Last season, his first in pinstripes, Fried dominated with a 19-5 record, 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 189 strikeouts across 195.1 innings and 32 starts. Fried was just what the Yankees needed last year with Gerrit Cole out all season due to Tommy John surgery.
Now, Fried went down with injury right before Cole returned this season. Cole has a 4.01 ERA in eight starts since returning from the IL on May 22.
Once Fried is healthy, he should form a dominant three-headed monster atop the Yankees' already strong starting rotation with Cole and Cam Schlittler.
The Yankees could also be in on back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline. However, Skubal would cost a historic haul of top prospects to acquire and the Yankees won't be in need of another starter as long as Fried returns in the next couple of weeks. That is also assuming that the rest of the rotation remains intact health-wise.
The Yankees, who have been without Fried and Aaron Judge (rib fracture) since May, had a rough 12-14 month of June. They have also lost eight of their last nine games. New York currently trails the Tampa Bay Rays by four games in the AL East.
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This story was originally published July 5, 2026 at 12:25 PM.