7 realistic landing spots for Max Fried that would haunt Braves fans forever
There are a few teams Braves fans would rather not see Max Fried with in 2025.
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.
San Diego Padres
Yet another California based team that could employ the services of Max Fried. The San Diego Padres have been taking huge steps every year to build an incredible team on both sides of the ball. Martín Pérez will be hitting the free agent market, and you can bet Fried is San Diego's desired replacement for the left-hander.
Adding Max to a rotation featuring Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Yu Darvish would make the Padres harder to beat. Petco Park is also a pitcher-friendly park, a factor Fried could consider. San Diego will have a lot of competition for his services, however,
Texas Rangers
The Rangers are one year removed from winning the World Series, but 2024 went sideways for the World Champions. Texas will face a tough offseason as they have three notable rotation departures. Andrew Heaney, Max Scherzer, and Nathan Eovaldi could all be on their way out the door.
Heaney and Scherzer will be free agents, while Eovaldi has a player option to return if he chooses to. Fried will undoubtedly be one of the pitchers they look to add as they try to find a way back to the postseason in 2025. They aren't shy about offering expensive contracts if they feel the player will help them in the long run. The Rangers are a sleeper team that people should watch during the bidding war for Fried.
New York Yankees
As soon as you read that the Yankees could be a landing spot for Fried, I felt the collective eye rolls on the other side of the screen. However, it needs to be said as they have deep pockets. New York is always in on major free agents every offseason, and Fried will certainly be someone they consider.
They already have a southpaw locked into a decent-sized contract with Carlos Rodon. The only notable Yankees starting pitcher who could leave is Gerrit Cole, as he has an opt-out available unless the Yankees add another year worth $36 million. New York's primary focus will be on their bullpen, as they have four impact arms set to reach free agency. So, Fried may not be on their list of priorities.
New York Mets
This would be one of the most painful teams to see Atlanta lose Fried to. The Mets have proven they want to spend more over the last few years. Money has not been an issue, and New York has proven they are on the right track as they find themselves in the NLCS this year.
New York is in a similar situation as the Texas Rangers, as they have three potential arms leaving their rotation. Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, and Sean Manaea combined for 94 starts with a 3.71 ERA over 534 innings in 2024 for the Mets. However, they could all leave Flushing once the season concludes. Manaea has an opt-out, and he may exercise it considering he found a fix to his mechanics this season that turned him into a dominant force. He would be wise to test the open market.
Philadelphia Phillies
Another NL East team to worry about signing Max Fried is the Philadelphia Phillies. Philly won the division in 2024 as one of baseball's best teams. They will be looking to upgrade and help the team push further in the playoffs next season. Fried would make a lot of sense for them, so they'll certainly pursue his services.
However, the Phillies are returning their entire rotation in 2025, so they may not pursue him as hard as other teams mentioned. They have a couple of major bullpen arms to replace, as Carlos Estevez, Jeff Hoffman, and Spencer Turnbull will hit the market. Braves fans will hope Max doesn't land anywhere in the NL East next season.
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