Max Fried, the left-handed ace for the Atlanta Braves, is among the top pitchers available in free agency this offseason. Several teams are reportedly interested in signing the 31-year-old, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox. According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet and Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Blue Jays are particularly keen on Fried, with the Yankees also checking in on him—though their main focus is bringing back Juan Soto. The Red Sox, in addition to Fried, are reportedly pursuing Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox to bolster their rotation.
Fried has been a standout performer for Atlanta, posting a career 3.07 ERA over 884.1 innings. He’s struck out 23.9% of batters and walked just 6.8%, both slightly better than the league average, while his 54.4% ground ball rate ranks among the highest in baseball. His durability has been a major asset, as he’s consistently pitched over 165 innings in most seasons. However, a forearm strain limited him to just 14 starts in 2023, and another nerve issue in his forearm caused him to miss a few starts in 2024. Despite this, he pitched 174.1 innings with a 3.25 ERA last year, showing he can bounce back from injury.
Atlanta has extended a qualifying offer to Fried, but he’s expected to decline it in search of a long-term deal. MLB Trade Rumors predicts a six-year, $156 million contract for Fried, making him one of the top targets in free agency. The Blue Jays, who are looking to strengthen their rotation, could face a tough decision on whether to pursue Fried while managing their other needs. With three established starters in José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt, Toronto may look to add depth, especially with prospects like Alek Manoah still a question mark.
As the offseason progresses, Fried’s decision will likely influence how other teams structure their rosters, with several contenders positioning themselves to land a top-tier pitcher.
