Fried, a two-time All-Star and former Cy Young runner-up, was one of the most coveted arms on the free-agent market this past offseason. Over his eight seasons in Atlanta, he posted a 3.07 ERA with 863 strikeouts, three Gold Gloves, and a reputation as one of the league’s top left-handers.

When Max Fried signed an 8-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees over the winter, he knew the increased responsibility that would come with the richest deal ever for a southpaw. On Saturday, when he takes the ball in the Bronx for the first time against the Brewers,