Max Fried's final regular season start for the 2024 Atlanta Braves had all the feelings of a finale. The hurler looking to the stands and showing obvious emotion suggests Fried is on his way out. Atlanta expects to get back Spencer Strider next season and has a reason to believe Chris Sale's career resurgence will continue. Add in the exciting Spencer Schwellenbach and the Braves have every reason to feel they shouldn't go all in to re-sign Max Fried.
The rotation is far from the team's weakness even without Max it is a great rotation. Outside of the obvious splashy move needed at shortstop, the Braves have decisions to make in the outfield, bullpen, and bench depth. All pointing to Max Fried following the path of Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson exiting stage left and cashing in. This leads to the obvious question from Atlanta's perspective, who could replace the lefty in the 2025 rotation?
7 candidates for the Braves' rotation if Max Fried leaves in free agency
Max Scherzer
If the Braves part ways with Charlie Morton there is another aging pitcher they could look to bring in at the bottom of the rotation. Atlanta's ability to get the most out of aging pitchers in Jesse Chavez and Charlie Morton lends room to wonder if the same could be the case with Scherzer.
The veteran has made it clear he plans to pitch in 2025 and will be hitting free agency. If the Braves aren't paying for Fried it is because they believe in the top of their rotation without him. This means you're looking for a veteran innings eater with a high upside in free agency or a surprise contributor in-house. Scherzer should be given the same deal the team gave Charlie Morton if the veteran is ready to walk away and hope the results can be similar and there is always the chance the veteran has one magical run left.