![\"Atlanta](\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2517185\/atlanta-braves-pitcher-max-fried.webp?w=790&f=f3bac44818183715c3f1b006cfbd2f6a)
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\nAtlanta Braves<\/strong> Obviously, money rules everything in this world, so Atlanta will have to pay up if it truly wants to keep Fried in a Braves uniform. Due to the long-term, low-AAV contracts that Atlanta has on its books, money shouldn’t be a big issue here. It’ll come down to whether the Braves front office is stingy with their wallet.<\/p>\n Philadelphia Phillies<\/strong> Philadelphia’s starting pitching rotation is loaded with talent, but its fifth starter was the biggest hole on the team. Taijaun Walker was un-pitchable down the stretch of 2024.<\/p>\n There would be no better way to fill that hole than to sign an NL East ace away from one of the Phillies’ biggest rivals. Fried to Philadelphia makes a lot of sense if you’re the Phillies.<\/p>\n New York Mets<\/strong> New York has faced Fried 23 different times for over 100 innings across Fried’s eight-year career. They’re familiar with each other and New York could throw Fried a boatload of cash to pull him away from Atlanta.<\/p>\n Boston Red Sox<\/strong> Boston will likely spend the money to acquire an ace-level pitcher to lead its staff. Fried’s direct connection with Giolito could be just what Boston needs to bring Fried in.<\/p>\n Boston needs to be aggressive to keep up with the rest of the loaded AL East.<\/p>\n Baltimore Orioles<\/strong> But the expectation is that Burnes will be headed elsewhere in free agency. If Baltimore loses Burnes, we could see the front office take a shot at a starter like Fried. With multiple other AL East teams interested in Fried, the Orioles could look to steal him from those teams.<\/p>\n Toronto Blue Jays<\/strong> Now Toronto needs to be very aggressive in free agency. The Blue Jays have a few good starting pitchers already but they need to add one or two arms in free agency.<\/p>\n Adding Fried would be the perfect move because Toronto would steal him right from under the Orioles and Red Sox’s nose.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Atlanta Braves star pitcher Max Fried is an unrestricted free agent this winter and there will be a lot of teams putting their names in the hat to sign him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6489,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nFried has spent his entire eight-year big league career with the Braves. Atlanta has been home to the southpaw ace for nearly a decade, so the Braves will have a bit of a leg up in negotiations.<\/p>\n
\nThe Philadelphia Phillies didn’t have very many holes on their roster this year, but the holes they did have were massive.<\/p>\n
\nEvery top free agent and trade target will be on the New York Mets’ radar this winter. No player is too expensive for Steve Cohen and the Mets.<\/p>\n
\nThe Boston Red Sox need a starter and they have a very tight connection to Fried already. Red Sox pitcher\u00a0Lucas Giolito was a high school teammate of Fried’s.<\/p>\n
\nAs Heyman noted, the Baltimore Orioles are already in on Fried. But Baltimore’s interest in Fried will likely completely depend on Corbin Burnes’ free agency decision. If Burnes is able to be brought back, the Orioles will be out on other top pitchers.<\/p>\n
\nThe Toronto Blue Jays did just about everything correctly in 2024 to set themselves up for success in 2025. Toronto wasn’t competitive, so it moved all of its expiring contracts to acquire prospects and clear money from its books.<\/p>\n