3 teams that could steal Max Fried away from the Braves next offseason
Max Fried could very well become a free agent after the season, but where could he end up if that happens.
Beyond the moves the Atlanta Braves have made this offseason, one of the storylines that has popped up the most this offseason is the impending free agency of Max Fried. With 2024 being the last season that Fried is under contract with the team, Braves fans are understandably concerned that they stand to lose one of the best pitchers in baseball and a guy that has been instrumental to their run of success over the last six seasons.
Since Fried debuted back in 2017, he has put up a 3.03 ERA across 139 appearances with 697 strikeouts in 710 innings of work. He has finished in the top 5 of Cy Young voting twice, won three Gold Gloves, and made the All-Star team in 2022. Assuming he can stay healthy in 2024, there is a strong likelihood that he will be in contention to add even more accolades this season as well.
Right now, the prospect of an extension with the Braves doesn't look particularly good. While Fried has clearly enjoyed his time with the Braves and the team loves him, what the Braves are going to be willing to offer the 30 year old pitcher that dealt with elbow issues last year versus what the open market may give him could be an insurmountable gap even if both sides would like to figure something out. Fried's latest comments just this past week about entering his walk year didn't inspire a ton of confidence that a deal is going to get done, either.
Instead of focusing on what Fried's next deal, either with the Braves or elsewhere, could or should look like, it may be more instructive to see what other teams could be the biggest threats to steal him away from Atlanta. It is safe to say that most of the league would love to have Fried in their rotation, but here is a look at the teams that could have the ability to pay him enough AND be appealing enough as a destination to lure him away.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants' have turned into a a bit of a meme this offseason as always being the bridesmaids, but never the bride when it comes to attracting top free agents. Last offseason, they went hard after Aaron Judge only for him to use their offer as leverage to re-sign a mega deal with the Yankees and they then had to back out of a deal with Carlos Correa after his physical revealed some serious issues. San Francisco was also spurned by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offseason and the Giants now find themselves in desperate need of adding a star after two offseasons of failing to do so.
While the Giants would probably prefer to add a big time bat, Fried is certainly going to be on their radar next offseason as one of the top free agents available. Their current roster doesn't exactly scream World Series contender at the moment, but what the Giants do have going for them is having very deep pockets and a willingness to reach into them. If Fried is only seeking top dollar for his services, San Francisco is going to be one of the teams can and probably would give it to him.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the Giants are on the west coast which could be appealing to Fried given his California roots. While geography is often overblown as a factor for free agents with money and winning being far more important, being closer to home could be a realistic tiebreaker if the offers he ends up getting are relatively close.
Los Angeles Dodgers
This is the nightmare scenario for the Braves, but one that can't be ignored. Every baseball fan that hasn't been living under a rock has seen what the Dodgers have done this offseason. After committing over a billion dollars this offseason to Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and others, LA has clearly pushed their chips in to try and become a dynasty for the next decade.
The argument for why the Dodgers could be a threat to sign Fried is a simple one: they are loaded, they are incredibly good, and they can't afford to take their foot off the gas with the moves they have made. Importantly, one of their biggest needs remains in their rotation even if Ohtani returns to form on the mound as Clayton Kershaw's career is winding down (if he comes back at all) and Walker Buehler will also be a free agent after the 2024 season. Combine that with Fried being a lefty which the Dodgers may covet and you have a pretty strong fit assuming the money continues to flow freely.
Aside from the fact that LA is a true contender for a title who also has a ton of money at their disposal, Fried is originally from the Los Angeles area which gives them the unique edge as being his hometown team. By itself, that may not matter much. However, if faced with an offer that could exceed the deals handed out to Carlos Rodon and Aaron Nola to join one of the league's super teams, it certainly won't hurt the Dodgers' case that Max could also be close to friends and family and also reunite with former Brave Freddie Freeman.
The only question is whether or not Fried's health becomes a factor. The Dodgers already have Ohtani who just had his second Tommy John surgery and Tyler Glasnow who has struggled to stay healthy in their rotation. If Fried shows signs of breaking down in 2024, then LA could try to pivot to more proven durable options like Zack Wheeler and especially Gerrit Cole if he opts out. However, if Fried pitches a full season and is healthy, the Dodgers are going to be a threat to sign him.
New York Mets
If the Dodgers are the team that Braves fans would hate the most as a destination for Fried, the Mets are probably a close second. While it was thoroughly enjoyable to see the Mets' $300+ million payroll in 2023 result in a fourth place finish in the NL East, they are still going to be a threat in free agency as long as Steve Cohen is their owner and he hasn't bankrupted himself. It is fun to make fun of Cohen's spending habits, but he definitely deserves credit for putting his money where his mouth is in an era where most owners want to cut costs whenever given the opportunity.
The Mets are in a weird spot as an organization. After their disastrous 2023 season, they have seemingly pivoted at the trade deadline towards trying to build up talent in the minor leagues with the goal of sustainable success at the cost of contending in the short-term. However, that didn't stop them from pursuing Yamamoto this offseason and adding a guy like Fried next offseason would fit with their goal of contending in 2025 and beyond.
Aside from the fact that the Mets have tons of money to work with, luxury tax be damned, they also have a clear need in their rotation as well. They traded away Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer and their current rotation consists of Kodai Senga and a bunch of guys on short-term deals that they hope work out. With little help coming from the minor leagues on the pitching side, New York is going to have sign some arms if they want to compete and adding Fried would give them a huge boost.
It is possible that Fried's history with the Braves in the division could make him somewhat reluctant to sign with a hated division rival. However, it is also possible that the Mets would LOVE to both bolster their rotation and weaken the Braves at the same time. If that is the case, Fried could end up getting an offer he can't refuse.
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