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.