Yankees fans might lose their minds after Max Fried reveal if he misses extended time

New York Yankees fans will be waiting on the edge of their seats for the incoming update on Max Fried, who will be examined by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad on Thursday. The left-hander departed his Wednesday start early after experiencing posterior elbow soreness.

We could be looking at a serious issue. That area of the elbow could mean a flexor strain or UCL damage. Those are obviously the more drastic diagnoses, but they can't be ruled out.

And if that wasn't alarming enough, how about the updates both Fried and manager Aaron Boone provided after the loss to the Orioles? Apparently, this isn't anything new for Fried in 2026, as he's dealt with similar discomfort after "numerous starts."

Was this not communicated to the medical staff? And if it was, why weren't there more precautionary measures taken? Would have skipping a Fried start been the worst thing in the world? Why not send him for tests or imaging to potentially get ahead of the injury?

Instead, it was seemingly determined Fried wouldn't seek a more in-depth medical opinion until he was forced out of a game due to escalating pain?

Max Fried injury highlights Yankees' inability to get ahead of such issues

We've seen this various times over the years. It was as recent as Anthony Volpe in 2025, who didn't undergo an imaging after suffering a concerning shoulder injury in early May. He played through it, receiving cortisone injections, and then needed surgery to repair a torn labrum at the end of the year (after he performed terribly).

They do this with almost every Giancarlo Stanton IL trip as they try to buy as much time as possible instead of simply dealing with the reality. Remember they told us he was day-to-day? He just underwent his second MRI after two weeks on the shelf and he's still not cleared to run. How about the Jose Caballero situation? They told us they weren't concerned and were confident he didn't suffer a fracture. He went for an MRI and ... there was a fracture.

But those two incidents aren't nearly as concerning as Fried's. There weren't warning signs with Stanton and Caballero — they just happened. Fried claiming the discomfort subsided rather quickly in the previous moments shouldn't have mattered. Any discomfort in a pitcher's throwing elbow should be an immediate cause for concern, especially when it comes to the team's ace.

Instead of enjoying a promising 27-17 start, fans are now wondering if they'll ever see Fried and Gerrit Cole share a starting rotation. Much like how fans were wondering years ago if they'd ever get the full Aaron Judge-Giancarlo Stanton experience ... and they kind of haven't! Since 2018, the two have only appeared in 640 games together (out of a possible 1,248).

Stay tuned for updates on Fried as the state of the 2026 season, in some ways, hangs in the balance.

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