The Braves now have some gaping holes in their rotation, which could force them to re-visit contract negotiations with Max Fried this offseason, but they’ll have a ton of competition.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees, fresh off an American League championship, are keeping tabs on the Braves ace, and could become even more interested if Juan Soto signs elsewhere.
“The Yankees checked on the free-agent ace pitchers — Max Fried, Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell — but it remains uncertain whether they would do Soto and an ace pitcher, too,” Heyman writes.
Heyman adds that three other AL East teams are also interested in Fried this offseason.
“The Orioles, Red Sox and Blue Jays are all in on at least Fried. Boston is looking to upgrade its pitching and they don’t have a lefty, so Fried could make sense.”
All four teams have a desperate need for starting pitching, and all of them likely have deeper pockets than Braves this winter. The Yankees and Red Sox are obvious, but the Orioles have new ownership and feel they are close to being a serious contender in the American League. The Blue Jays, who were one of the finalists for Shohei Ohtani last offseason, also can’t be counted out.
Four clubs from one division all having interest in one pitcher is pretty rare, but it provides an idea of Max Fried’s market this offseason. Every team with a need for starting pitching, which is just about everybody, and deep pockets will be in contact with Fried’s agents.
That doesn’t bode well for the Braves, who have consistently shied away from bidding wars since Alex Anthopoulos took over as general manager. However, if Max Fried is to leave this offseason, it sure would be nice if he found his way over to the American League, rather than sign with a team like the Dodgers, which we saw Freddie Freeman do a few years ago.
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Photo: John Adams/Icon Sportswire
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