It seems just like yesterday that Max Fried began his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves. He's given the Braves some great innings and even helped secure a World Series title. Unfortunately, he may have reached the end of his Braves journey.
Fried became a free agent after Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs. Now, his future lies in the hands of him and his agency. Braves fans have gone through this enough times now to know there's no guarantee that players they want to return will do so.
It's hard to argue against Max coming back next season, as he's been one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. However, injuries and age will be his biggest hurdles when looking for a new contract. There's a chance he lands with a new team. So... let's examine a few landing spots for Fried, including a few teams Braves fans would not appreciate.
7 realistic landing spots for Max Fried that would haunt Braves fans
San Francisco Giants
Max Fried is from Southern California, so any team near that region is likely to be on his radar. San Francisco is always looking to make a free agent splash, and with Blake Snell likely opting out of his deal, Fried would be a perfect addition to their team.
He would pitch in a stadium that is pitcher-friendly and close to home. The Giants recently added Buster Posey as their President of Baseball Operations and he understands good pitching is imperative for teams to succeed, so it's safe to say Max Fried will be atop his wish list for 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers
This is the team almost everyone will tie Fried to as free agency ramps up in the coming months. Max is a native of the Los Angeles area, and the Dodgers always have money to spend. Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty will create holes in their rotation, so Fried will be one of their considerations.
Clayton Kershaw has a player option, and he may choose to return with how injury ended his season prematurely. However, Fried presents them with a younger lefty option, but the injury risk with Max could deter them. Braves fans could lose yet another favorite player to his hometown.