So far, the defining move of the Atlanta Braves 2025 offseason was letting Max Fried walk in free agency. Fried joined the Yankees in a departure that was long expected, but still stung all the same. Fried's legacy as an Atlanta Brave and World Series champion remains despite clear reasons to believe the Braves made the right decision to walk away.
This isn't the first time they've let a franchise player walk with former Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson's Cubs contract already aging poorly. Freddie Freeman leaving for the Dodgers has aged far better, however, there is a clear argument the Braves have the better long-term deal in Matt Olson. All of this to say, the Braves front office has given every reason to trust that they made the right call opting not to re-sign Max Fried.
Max Fried gets interviewed by @BobLorenz and @JackCurryYES at his introductory press conference in the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/OcPINgvowp
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 18, 2024
Fried's contract has all the makings of a bullet dodged by a savvy Braves front office
Bleacher Report's list of biggest overpays of the 2024 offseason is headlined by Fried. Pointing to the starter's injury history as well as the money owed at the end of the deal, compelling points are made. The Yankees may not regret signing Fried if his addition vaults them to a World Series. However, the move comes with great risk as an obvious overpay with a no-trade clause giving Fried all of the power late into his thirties.
As desperate as the Yankees are for quality starting pitching one could rationalize the move from their perspective. From the Braves, it is a clear stay away with more than enough pitching to already cement themselves as National League contenders. With Braves pundits themselves pointing this out as well, with the obvious risks that Fried's deal brings.
In a similar post by Bleacher Report, Max Fried was tagged as one of the contracts most likely to turn into a nightmare by the 2027 season. While all of this is simply projection it does offer a bit of solace to Atlanta Braves fans remaining impatient for their front office to make a move. Despite having the practice of watching franchise cornerstones walk it is a bit easier to accept when there are moves to distract.
As Braves fans await a quiet offseason to end, they can take a bit of solace in the fact the team made the right call. Overpaying Max Fried with an already loaded rotation would have been a mistake that pushed the franchise in the wrong direction. While the team might need rotational depth their focus should be on breathing life back into the offense and getting healthy for the 2025 season. Even without Max Fried, the Braves still have all the right pieces to be a contender and clearly made the right call letting the veteran walk away.