NYY News: Previewing the Battle of the Southpaws
03/29/2025 12:00 AM
Yankees new and old (Fried and Cortes) match up in today's start; behind the Rays' attempt to rapidly turn Yankees' spring training facility into their own home stadium
MLB.com | Bill Ladson: Later today, Yankees free agent acquisition and ace-presumptive Max Fried will get the ball for the first time in his new uniform. Rather than previewing the pitcher, Ladson sat down to discuss Fried's relationship with Reggie Smith, the 17-year veteran who played for the Red Sox, Cardinals, and Dodgers over the course of his career. Although an All-Star first baseman and outfielder, Smith is the architect behind Fried's signature curveball, having taught him the pitch, using his knowledge of early biomechanics to teach him a version of the pitch that minimized stress on his arm. Although Smith will not be in attendance at Yankee Stadium today, he will be watching his protegee online.
MLB.com | Adam McCalvy: Matching up against Fried today will be former Yankees starter Nestor Cortes, who was traded to the Brewers over the winter for closer Devin Williams. As Yankees fans are quite familiar, the crafty lefty messes with hitters by changing his arm angle, screwing with hitters' timing, and in general just being an absolute nightmare of a pitcher to try to figure out. He figures to be a critical part of a Milwaukee pitching staff that, at present, only has three real starting pitchers on its staff due to injuries. But much like he was over the past few years in the Bronx, Cortes is ready for anything.
Hopefully, the Yankees faithful will serenade him with cheers when he takes the mound for the first time — even if, this time ever, they hope his start ends very quickly.
ESPN | Jorge Castillo: One of the biggest stories of this week has been the Tampa Bay Rays' attempt to transform George M. Steinbrenner Field from a Yankees facility to the Rays' home ballpark during their hurricane-forced exile from Tropicana Field. Given just four days, the team employed 80 staff members and 50 contractors to repaint walls, hang signs, and generally cover as many Yankee-themed thing as possible, with only the statue of George Steinbrenner himself being considered off limits.
Incidentally, the 2025 Rays have already benefitted from the change of scenery. They won their Opening Day yesterday over the Rockies thanks to a walk-off homer from Kameron Misner (the first of his career) into the Yankees' Tampa version of the Short Porch.
