GM and Braves Star Talk About Potential Contract Extension at Spring Training
After the 2024 season, the Atlanta Braves may lose a few players in their rotation.
After this season, the Atlanta Braves have enough pitching prospect capital to absorb the loss of one or two rotation members.
The Braves can find the innings to replace a departing pitcher or two because to the depth of backend starters in AAA, including Dylan Dodd, Allan Winans, and Darius Vines, as well as the top prospect tandem of Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver.
However, none of those prospects really seem to be a good fit to replace Max Fried, who before last season’s injury-plagued performance was among baseball’s most reliable and experienced pitchers.
However, Fried’s free agency is scheduled to begin after this season, so Atlanta may need to find a replacement. Alex Anthopoulos, the president of baseball operations, talked about that very prospect this morning at a press conference in North Port, Florida.
“It is obvious that he is exceptional,” stated Anthopoulos. “It will come up if there is a fantastic player during a free agent year. Retaining these people will always be our top priority, along with maintaining a competitive club environment around them. The challenge is in attempting to strike a balance.
Fried has made 139 appearances for Atlanta since making his debut in 2017, going 62-26 with a 3.03 ERA. He was one of three pitchers from 2019 to 2022 who had 570 or more innings pitched and an ERA of 3.06 or better prior to the previous season:
Pitcher Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees) has a 3.03 ERA in 667.1 innings.
2: Shane Bieber of CLE has pitched 588.1 innings with a 2.91 ERA.
3. Max Fried, ATL: 572.2 innings pitched, 3.06 ERA
In his 77.2 innings pitched previous season, Fried was 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA despite spending three different periods on the injured list due to blisters, forearm strains, and hamstring strains.
Additionally, extending Fried has been a hot issue this offseason. When Fried was explicitly questioned about it at Braves Fest, he stated the following:
“At this moment, it’s beyond my control,” Fried stated. However, I am aware that the Braves operate in a private and confidential manner, and I respect their method. I value that. I can tell I enjoy being here, and I can’t wait to start working with this group.
Furthermore, Anthopoulos accepted and valued the decision to withhold specifics and keep the conversation private.
“I watched his Braves Fest responses. They seemed fantastic to me. That was not me telling him, “Hey, let’s agree that we’re going to say this,” as we were sitting down. You know, that was simply Max being himself and being truthful.
With Robbie Ray (a player opt out), Walker Buehler, Max Scherzer, Corbin Burnes, and Zack Wheeler all eligible for free agency, the starting pitcher class for the upcoming season could be loaded with stars. Despite his age—he will only be 31 after the 2019 season—and his lack of velocity dependence, Fried remains one of the most alluring possibilities.
Fried talked about the uncertainty of perhaps switching teams and leaving the only Major League Baseball team he has ever played for. Fried responded, “This is all I really know.” “I have received nothing but assistance from this organization. I am aware of how much the city and fans have welcomed me. I’ve had a great experience being here.
We’ll see if baseball’s business can sort itself out.
