The Atlanta Braves have clearly benefited from having ace Max Fried on their staff over the past eight years.
Fried made his major league debut with the Braves in 2017 and has been with the organization ever since. He has a career 3.11 ERA in 166 appearances. The veteran lefty has impressed once more this season, with a 3.49 ERA in 27 starts.
This could be his final season in Atlanta, however.
The Braves star is slated to enter free agency this winter, and Atlanta will undoubtedly face competition for his services. He will be one of the top participants on the open market. At only 30 years old, he has shown to be incredibly trustworthy for Atlanta.
Atlanta should do everything it can to get Fried back this winter. He will be pricey, however. According to Spotrac, the top ace is expected to receive a six-year contract worth over $150 million.
However, the Braves can afford him. Atlanta has done an excellent job of signing local stars to hefty contracts early, so the annual value isn’t exorbitant. As a result, the Braves’ payroll is manageable.
Fried has exceeded Atlanta’s expectations. He has been named to two All-Star teams, received three Gold Glove Awards, and helped the Braves win the World Series in 2021. If Atlanta wants to compete in 2025, it will be much simpler with Fried than without him.
