MLB executives weigh in on where Max Fried will sign in free agency

The Max Fried sweepstakes are off and running, but there have been no new developments since reports of interested parties. So here’s where we are:

Jon Heyman reported a couple of weeks ago that four AL East clubs will be in the mix.

“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 wrote. “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.”

Jeff Passan added a pair of West Coast teams interested in Fried’s services — the Dodgers and Giants.

“San Francisco and Baltimore will be part of the mix, too. And don’t forget the Dodgers, who are targeting at least one high-end starter,” Passan writes. “Fried, 31 on Opening Day, looks likely to get the second-largest guarantee for a pitcher this winter after posting a major-league-best 2.81 ERA over the past five seasons.”

An interesting piece released by ESPN polled anonymous MLB executives and one of the prompts was where Fried would sign in free agency. Braves fans won’t like seeing who the execs believe is most likely:

Max Fried: Mets 4, Dodgers 2, Giants 2, Cubs 2, Braves 2, Red Sox 2, Reds 1, Rangers 1, Orioles 1

I think I speak for all Braves Country when I say Steve Cohen and the Mets signing Max Fried would be a nightmare scenario. I’d argue even more so than the Dodgers because of the divisional proximity.

Fortunately, by the sheer number of clubs, it seems MLB execs don’t have any idea where Fried is leaning. Every club with a need for a starter should be in the market for the southpaw; he’s been arguably the best lefty on the planet from a consistency standpoint over the last half-decade.

The Braves are squarely in the mix in the eyes of the MLB executives, but they’ll have to get out of their comfort zone if they want to bring him back with so many clubs interested.

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Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire