Fried met Ron Guidry, a Yankees spring instructor, for the first time and is taking advantage of the 74-year-old's experience and wisdom.

A picture of Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, and Max Fried together in the Yankees' bullpen between sessions sets high expectations for the newly signed left-hander. Sabathia, always active on social media,

Growing up in Encino, California, Max Fried had the privilege of learning from a seven-time All-Star and World Series champion. That would be Reggie Smith, who spent 17 seasons in the majors with the Red Sox,

Max Fried learned his curveball from his “baseball mentor,” Reggie Smith, when he was a kid attending the longtime outfielder’s baseball academy in California. Nearly 20 years later, the pitch is a big reason why Fried landed an eight-year, $218 million contract from the Yankees.

Signed as free agent on an eight-year, $218 million contract, Max Fried joined a Yankees rotation that already featured Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt.