This winter, the Atlanta Braves have found themselves in a difficult situation.
Their top players, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider, are currently rehabilitating from injuries. They’re coming off a bad year (for them), and one of their top pitchers, Max Fried, is set to reach free agency.
Fried will be a highly sought-after player this winter, as the Braves aim to lead the way in contract discussions. However, given the current state of his market, bringing him back to Atlanta will be difficult.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently linked Fried to eight teams, not including the Braves, and predicted that the lefty will sign a six-year, $166 million contract.
“His 139 ERA-plus is eighth best all-time. The (New York) Yankees, (Boston)Red Sox, (Toronto Blue) Jays, (Baltimore) Orioles, (New York) Mets, (Chicago) Cubs, (San Francisco) Giants, and his hometown (Los Angeles) Dodgers are probable players. The Red Sox need a lefty. $166 (million), (six) years,” Heyman wrote.
Heyman missed out the current Braves, but the eight clubs listed made perfect sense. They’re either contending clubs looking to add a starter or teams who missed the playoffs in 2024 and want to rebuild their franchise.
Acquiring an ace like Fried, who frequently posts ERAs in the threes, would be a major step in the right direction for any organization, particularly those seeking to compete with the mighty Dodgers.
