The Baltimore Orioles have found themselves on the cusp of greatness the past two postseason outings but have fallen short at the initial hurdle, largely due to a rotation that just hasn’t had the edge.
They sought to patch this gap by bringing in Corbin Burnes, a move that promised short-term gains with his single year of team control. As he now inches closer to free agency, the uncertainty looms for the Orioles, and it’s time to explore other options in the pitching market.
Enter Max Fried, a name resonating with potential and reliability. Tagged as a ‘perfect fit’ for Baltimore by Bleacher Report, Fried offers what the Orioles have been missing—a solid left-hander who can anchor their rotation.
At 30, Fried has established himself as one of baseball’s dependable arms, noted for both his innings and the quality of his starts. Since 2021, Fried’s resume boasts two All-Star nods, and a runner-up finish in the National League Cy Young race in 2022.
Although he hasn’t surpassed the 200-inning mark, Fried has consistently made at least 28 starts in three of the past four seasons. Throughout this period, he has accumulated 101 starts with an impressive 2.87 ERA over 603 innings.
That ERA figure positions him fourth across all pitchers, and his 13.9 fWAR ranks him as the tenth most valuable over those seasons. Known for his signature big, looping curveball, Fried isn’t a strikeout king but rather a master of steady, quality starts—evidenced by his five complete games and four shutouts since 2021.
This kind of consistency would make Fried a natural ace and Baltimore’s go-to Game 1 starter during potential playoff matchups. Currently, the team lacks a definitive ace; Grayson Rodriguez stands as the most likely candidate in-house if external options aren’t secured.
Financially, Fried is an attractive option. Whereas Burnes is likely to seek a sizable commitment north of $200 million, Fried’s market value presents a more palatable figure for the Orioles.
Projections from Fangraphs and Spotrac place Fried at five years, $125 million, to six years, $136 million—a significant discount compared to Burnes. This makes Fried not only a potential linchpin for the rotation but also a cost-effective acquisition with the potential for long-term impact.
For Baltimore, an improvement in their starting rotation is a prerequisite to advancing from playoff hopefuls to serious World Series contenders. Their dynamic, young offensive lineup craves a reliable pitching foundation to truly challenge the league’s elite. Max Fried could be the pivotal addition that turns the Orioles’ blend of youthful energy and offensive prowess into a formidable contender on the Major League stage.
