Max Fried’s decision about pitching in the World Baseball Classic is bad news for USA Baseball fans yet should come as a relief to fans of the New York Yankees. According to Jack Curry of YES Network,

One of the stars of the New York Yankees will not be participating in the World Baseball Classic. Pitcher Max Fried was invited by Team USA manager Mark

Despite a flurry of new additions to the USA roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the pitching staff remains very light on talent in part because one prominent starter turned down an invite.

The New York Yankees have emerged as the leading candidate to sign one of the top starting pitchers in free agency.

Yankees predicted to be frontrunners to make blockbuster trade for $53 million All-Star ace to create 1-2 punch with Max Fried originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The manager went on to say that swingman Ryan Yarbrough, re-signed earlier this offseason, gives the Yankees “protection,” while “a handful of guys” at or close to Triple-A “are kind of getting close to being factors,” if only on a “limited basis.” Boone didn’t specify who, but top-100 prospect Elmer Rodríguez is one candidate.

Max Fried, who earned All-Star honors and won a Gold Glove in his first season with the Yankees, is the early frontrunner to start Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants. Fried finished his first Yankees season with a 2.86 ERA and a league-leading 19 wins in 195 1/3 innings.

The New York Yankees simply couldn't have asked for a better start to Max Fried's career with the team. Per MLB.com's Sarah Langs, Fried has posted the third-lowest ERA (1.84) of any Yankees starting pitcher over their first 14 starts of a season since the ...

While the Yankees fell short of capturing a long-coveted championship this fall, their ace needs to find some space in his trophy room for a new piece of hardware. Max Fried fielded his position better than any other American League pitcher in 2025, as he ...

The New York Yankees are seemingly one of the top landing spots for international free agent Tatsuya Imai this winter.