The New York Yankees entered spring training with more starting pitching than they knew what to do with. Now, they need all the help they can get. Shortly after Juan Soto hopped on the Queens-bound 7-train,

On the December afternoon Max Fried was formally fitted for pinstripes, the left-hander spoke about looking forward to pairing with Gerrit Cole at the top of the Yankees' rotation, saying that he would be “excited to sit and watch every single one of his starts.

Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training Try it free TAMPA — The last time a high-priced lefty free agent starter pitched his first game during spring training,

Fried was expected to be a terrific piece alongside Cole and Gil, but now he's going to be at the top of the rotation for New York.

Max Fried knows who he is and who he is not. He might have gained a title of “ace,” but his identity remains the same. “I have to be Max Fried,” the lefty said Tuesday morning. “I can’t try to fill in anyone else’s shoes.