The Braves to-do list this offseason has grown exponentially over the last couple of days.
The bullpen is now a heightened priority. With A.J. Minter set to test free agency and Joe Jimenez out 8-12 months, the Braves will have to add at least one high-leverage arm this offseason, if not multiple.
Outfield is also a much greater concern now that it has been confirmed that Ronald Acuna Jr. will not be ready for Opening Day. He suffered a torn ACL in late May, the second torn ACL of his career, and the Braves do not plan on rushing him back. The same can be said for Spencer Strider, who underwent internal brace surgery in April to repair a torn UCL. He also won’t be ready for Opening Day, and it could be much longer than that, leaving a void in the rotation the Braves must fill this offseason.
Could that mean Alex Anthopoulos might be more open to negotiating with Max Fried? It’s possible, but MLB Trade Rumors’ latest free agent predictions for Max Fried serve as a reminder not to get your hopes up. Their contract prediction for the long-time Braves ace is six years, $156 million, with three of their writers predicting him to land with the Cubs and one projecting the Dodgers as his next team.
6. Max Fried: Six years, $156MM
Tim: Cubs / Anthony: Dodgers / Darragh: Cubs / Steve: Cubs
Fried doesn’t have the Cy Young Awards of the earlier pitchers on the list, but he has a pair of top-five finishes (including a 2022 runner-up showing) and has been the anchor of Atlanta’s rotation for more than a half decade. He’s all but a lock to post a low-3.00s or upper-2.00s ERA every season, with his earned run average clocking in at 3.25 or lower in each of the past five. Fried has a combined 2.81 ERA in 112 starts in that time.
Six years, $156 million might be on the high side for Max Fried. However, it only takes one team to fall in love with him for that to happen, and there are several clubs with very deep pockets in the market for starting pitchers this offseason. Any team that misses out on Corbin Burnes will likely pivot to Fried, and they won’t be eager to lose another bidding war, which could drive up his price tag.
If the bidding does get up to six years for Max Fried, it’s almost impossible to imagine the Braves will be seriously involved. They already have a ton of money committed to their roster and a lot of other, more pressing needs to fill. Five years is the max I could see the Braves offering Fried, and even that might be wishful thinking.
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Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire
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