Max Fried Injury, Latest News on Yankees Star's Surgery and Timeline to Return Ahead of MLB Season

New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried picked up an injury late in the year, but he won't be sidelined for too long.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Tuesday that Fried underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow. He's expected to start a throwing program in the second week of December and will likely be ready for the start of spring training.

Fried missed time during the 2026 season because of a left elbow bone bruise that caused two stints on the injured list. He made 20 starts during the regular season and went 5-5 with a 2.80 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched.

During the playoffs, Fried started two games and went 1-1, pitching a gem in a wild-card win over the Boston Red Sox before taking the loss in the Yankees' elimination game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.

The 2027 season will be the third year of Fried's eight-year, $218 million contract with New York. He earned his third career All-Star selection in his first season with the Yankees in 2025 as he went on to lead MLB with 19 wins that year. When fully healthy, he gives the team an ace-caliber pitcher in the No. 2 spot behind Cam Schlittler.

The Yankees are trying to figure out how to win their first World Series title since 2009, so it will be interesting to see how aggressive they are in free agency this winter. Fried's injury doesn't seem serious enough to lead to any major changes in New York.