The Atlanta Braves may face stiff competition from two World Series contenders in their bid to retain Max Fried during MLB free agency, according to a report from a well-known insider. If the Braves want to keep their All-Star pitcher, they will likely need to outbid both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles this offseason.
While this season hasn’t gone exactly as the Braves had hoped, they’re still in the playoff hunt during the final week. Despite losing key players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider early in the year, they’ve remained competitive thanks to strong performances from players like Marcell Ozuna, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and Max Fried. However, Fried’s time in Atlanta could be coming to an end as he’s set to become a free agent after the season.
Fried, a two-time All-Star, is one of the top pitchers available in free agency, following Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell. Jon Heyman, an MLB insider, mentioned in a Bleacher Report live stream that the Braves will face competition from both the Dodgers and Orioles if they want to keep Fried.
Fried’s stats this season include a 10-10 record, a 3.42 ERA, 1.195 WHIP, 157 strikeouts, 55 walks, and 165.2 innings pitched.
The Dodgers, being one of MLB’s top spenders and with Fried hailing from Santa Monica, California, are seen as a serious contender for his services. On the other hand, if the Orioles lose Burnes in free agency, Fried could be their fallback option. With billionaire David Rubenstein now in charge of the Orioles, they could also be poised to make a significant financial push for top talent this offseason, making it tough for the Braves to keep Fried.
