Max Fried seems to be in a good place with the Atlanta Braves after losing his arbitration case.
For at least one more season, Max Fried will be the Atlanta Braves‘ ace, toeing the rubber every fifth day for the NL East juggernaut.
The perennial Gold Glover and 2022 NL All-Star lost his final arbitration case with his employer ahead of this season. Fried is in his very late 20s and in the midst of his prime as a professional. Although he should command quite the bump in pay on the open market next winter, he does not harbor any ill will towards his employer. He really likes the Braves and would love stay with them.
If Fried were to walk, it would mark the third offseason in a row Atlanta lost a cornerstone on the opening market, joining first baseman Freddie Freeman to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 and shortstop Dansby Swanson to the Chicago Cubs in 2023. While general manager Alex Anthopoulos has been willing to spend money on his own guys, he rarely strives to overpay during free agency.
If there was ever a time for Anthopoulos to buck his team-building trend, Fried would be worth it.
Max Fried seems open to returning to the Atlanta Braves on a long-term deal
Third time’s a charm, right? Yeah, that might be wishful thinking for Braves Country, but Fried’s negotiations with Atlanta seem to be different than Freeman’s and Swanson’s were. No matter how you slice it, Freeman was not going to take a hometown discount like Chipper Jones did for years to stay put. It was close, but no cigar, as the native Angeleno returned to the West Coast.
Swanson had a career year and the Braves brass was not willing to be the ones holding the bag, even if the Marietta Blue Devil grew up literally miles from Truist Park in Cobb County. Besides their friendship and playing for the same team, the other key component tying Freeman and Swanson together was their representation. Swanson is repped by Excel Sports like Freeman was.
And that right there may play a huge part in Fried’s chances of returning to the Braves beyond 2023. He is represented by CAA. Factor in him being one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game and he will have a market, even in a down year for him. In short, it is going to be a lot harder for the Braves to replace Fried than it was replacing Freeman and Swanson in back-to-back years.
Atlanta traded for native son Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics to replace Freeman. He is four years younger than him and would not cost and arm and a leg to keep him. Olson was extended almost immediately. As for replacing Swanson, it seems as though Troublemaker Vaughn Grissom will be getting his opportunity. He is expected to split time with Orlando Arcia in the Atlanta infield.
Overall, Atlanta has to recognize its championship window is wide open for as long as Brian Snitker is their manager. He is in late 60s. It could be extended beyond that if Atlanta hires the right successor. Let’s hope we don’t have to live through the Fredi Gonzalez era again. With that in mind, it serves the Braves to field as competitive of a roster as their finances will allow them to.
Ultimately, Anthopoulos has earned the benefit of the doubt in his methodical approach to roster construction. For better or worse, he has been consistent. He has had to make some very difficult decisions over the last several years. However, Braves Country is not going to be happy in seeing Fried walk for nothing. It will be more divisive of an issue than with Swanson, possibly Freeman.
Fried seems at ease heading into his contract season, poised to make his bank account explode.