It's no secret that the Atlanta Braves will look for ways to improve the team in 2025. This season was one of the toughest for the organization since Anthopoulos took over. Injuries ravaged the team and affected almost every star player.
Max Fried wasn't immune from this, as he also missed some time this season with a forearm injury. However, he returned and completed another excellent season for the Braves, ending with the fifth-best ERA (3.25) in the National League. Things didn't end as he hoped, as the Padres shelled him in the Wild Card round.
Regardless of that outcome, Fried is one of the best pitchers in baseball and will be at the forefront of free agency conversation this offseason. Atlanta fans are skeptical that he will return to the Braves next season. They've already experienced the team passing on Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson. As much as Max says he'd love to play for Atlanta next season, there are a lot of factors out of his control.
Braves fans hope for reunion with Max Fried get a huge boost after Alex Anthopoulos’ recent comments
However, Alex Anthopoulos' recent comments on the budget for 2025 could provide fans with a bit of cautious optimism. He expects that the organization's budget will increase again, so they won't look for ways to save money if they think a player is worth the cost.
Anthopoulos stated, “I know it’s not going to go down, I expect it to rise, but to what level, we’ll spend the offseason going through that. I view it opening day to opening day, because in-season things come up. Like I’ve said, I’ve never been told no (based on money). I’ve never gone to (Chairman) Terry (McGuirk) and said, ‘We have the chance to add so and so’ (and been told no). I’ve always been given the money in-season, even though our payroll number is a certain amount going into the year. Is it a bottomless pit? Is it unlimited? Of course not. But every year, we’ve set a new Braves high from a payroll standpoint."
Over the last 3 seasons:
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) October 15, 2024
Max Fried:
73 Starts - 437.1 IP - 2.80 ERA/3.03 FIP - 8.6 K/9 - 2.2 BB/9 - 7.7 H/9 - 0.7 HR/9.
Blake Snell:
76 Starts - 412 IP - 2.82 ERA/2.92 FIP - 12.0 K/9 - 4.5 BB/9 - 6.2 H/9 - 0.7 HR/9 - .195 BAA
Snell is entering his age-32 season with no QO.… pic.twitter.com/VQr2g3RKBv
Atlanta had the sixth-highest payroll in baseball, as the Braves ended 2024 with a cost of $236,433,901. Anthopoulos stated after the trade deadline that the team was just below the threshold for the third tier of the luxury tax. According to Roster Resource, the Braves luxury tax total in 2024 was $276,995,508. This was the second straight season Atlanta paid in that tier and according to Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ($), this was the first time in franchise history they had done so.
So, with the team stating they expect another increase, they'll be penalized even more in 2025. This could influence some of their decisions, but Max Fried easily fits within those plans unless the team thinks his injury history is too risky. Fried will also come at a premium, as he has some incredible stats over the last few seasons.
Atlanta has the resources to bring Max Fried back next season, and Alex Anthopoulos will undoubtedly offer a contract that he believes is fair. Knowing the team is okay with potentially hitting the third tier of the tax threshold is an encouraging sign for those wanting Fried to be in the starting rotation come Opening Day.