The Atlanta Braves had all the right tools for a deep playoff run in 2024, but injuries prevented them from advancing past the first round.
Hopefully for the Braves, they'll find a way to retain most of their roster from this season, as several key players are hitting the free-agent market.
In what would be a devastating blow to Atlanta's rotation, a Braves veteran pitcher has been linked to the Toronto Blue Jays on a significant multi-year deal.
"Jon Heyman of The New York Post has linked Boston (Red Sox) and Baltimore (Orioles) to (Max) Fried, with Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet doing the honors for Toronto (Blue Jays)," Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote Thursday when outlining where this winter's top free agent starting pitchers could sign. "Conceivably, he could stick in the National League East with either Atlanta (albeit not via the qualifying offer) or New York (Mets)."
Fried has logged a 73-36 record with a 3.07 ERA, 863-to-246 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .237 batting average against and a 1.16 WHIP throughout his eight-year career with the Braves.
"The Red Sox make sense for Fried on paper, but they've had an aversion to qualifying offer-linked players in recent winters," Rymer continued. "This could mean an opening for the Orioles and Blue Jays, though one of them has more money to spend. Signs with Toronto Blue Jays for 6 years, $160 million."
If the Braves want to retain the three-time Gold Glove defender, they must dig deep in their pockets. Rymer's contract prediction puts Fried's estimated average annual value at roughly $26.7, which would make him the highest-paid player on the roster next season.
Will Atlanta be able to outbid big-market clubs looking to pay top dollar for Fried this offseason?
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