Max Fried takes encouraging Yankees step with return timetable unclear: ‘Really sharp’
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Skip to main content MLB New York YankeesMax Fried takes encouraging Yankees step with return timetable unclear: ‘Really sharp’
By Mark W. Sanchez Published June 30, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on GoogleStanding behind home plate as he watched the beginning of the simulated game, pitching coach Matt Blake took in a few pitches before turning around and shouting to a few members of the Yankees’ front office.
“Good deadline acquisition,” Blake yelled with a smile.
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Try it freeMax Fried does not yet have a firm timetable to return, but his positive progression grew a bit more tangible Tuesday.
For the first time since exiting a game in Baltimore on May 13, the Yankees lefty faced hitters again. He threw 28 pitches in two simulated innings to Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham, looked encouraged coming off the mound and looked like himself on it.
“I’ve faced him a couple times [in my career]. It’s never fun,” McMahon said. “It still wasn’t fun today. So it definitely looks like Max Fried.”
The sight of Fried pitching again was enticing enough to fill the Yankees’ dugout about four hours before the first pitch of the night’s game against the Tigers.
Aaron Boone, plenty of members of his coaching staff, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, much of the bullpen and Cody Bellinger were among the many to see Fried taking the next step toward a return with an elbow that did not betray any issues.
Fried is recovering from a left elbow bone bruise that has cost him about seven weeks and counting, but the injury was less serious than originally feared, since his UCL was OK.
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He had been throwing throughout his downtime on the injured list but has gotten the green light to begin building up. The next step for Fried is another live session Sunday, so he does not have a date yet even for a rehab assignment and figures to be at least a month away.
But barring a setback, the Yankees will have another ace — a third — to reincorporate into the rotation during the second half.
“Looked great. Like, really good,” Boone said. “Stuff was good. I thought he was really sharp. From the side there, it looked like good Max Fried.”
McMahon and Grisham managed no hard contact against Fried apart from a long foul ball from the third baseman. Boone had said a day prior that Giancarlo Stanton would be part of the sim game, but Tuesday the manager said he had misspoken.
Fried was able to land his curveball for a strike a few times and had a sinker McMahon called “nasty.”
“He’s just an absolute bulldog out there, man,” said McMahon, who saw Fried the Brave plenty when he was with the Rockies. “You [reporters] have had the pleasure of watching him. We’ve had the pleasure of playing behind him. He’s going to go compete every fifth day and give everything he’s got. That’s all you can ask for.”
Fried signed with the Yankees for $218 million ahead of the 2025 season to be the No. 2 behind Cole, who then required Tommy John surgery that spring. Fried was excellent, an All-Star and fourth-place finisher in AL Cy Young voting last season, before going down just nine days before Cole’s season debut. The two still have never shared a rotation.
If they can synchronize their health, and if Cam Schlittler can remain the revelation he has been as the front-runner for this year’s AL Cy Young, the Yankees would have arguably the best front three in the playoff field.
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Tuesday became a notable stride toward that Yankees dream.
“Really ever since coming out in Baltimore, I feel like every step of the way has gone really well as he’s getting back now to this point,” Boone said. “Encouraging step for Max today.”
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Panthers Signing Eetu Luostarinen To 8-Year Contract Extension
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David DworkWed, July 1, 2026 at 3:23 PM UTC·1 min readThe Florida Panthers are locking up another one of their key pieces to a long-term deal.
Florida is coming to terms with forward Eetu Luostarinen on an 8-year contract extension that will carry an average annual value (AAV) of $5 million, according to PuckPedia.
AdvertisementAdvertisementLuostarinen is entering the final year of a 3-year deal that carried a $3 million AAV, so this will be a significant raise for the young Finn.
The Panthers are also showing an incredible amount of trust in the 27-year-old, offering him a full eight-year term.
Luostarinen arrived in South Florida as part of the 2020 Trade Deadline deal that sent Vincent Trocheck to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, Chase Priskie and Luostarinen.
His play has progressively improved during his time with the Panthers, growing into an integral part of the team’s forward ranks.
Often paired up with countryman Anton Lundell, Luostarinen features a high-end, two-way game and can play either the wing or center.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe’s also an elite penalty killer with sneaky strong offensive capabilities.
The deal will give Florida 12 players, including Luostarinen, who are signed through at least 2030: Sasha Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, Gus Forsling, Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Seth Jones, Carter Verhaeghe, Niko Mikkola and Lundell.
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Photo caption: Jan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
