The Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox have all shown interest in acquiring left-handed pitcher Max Fried, one of the most highly sought-after pitchers in this offseason’s free-agent market. Reports from Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and The New York Post’s Jon Heyman confirm the Jays’ interest in Fried, with Heyman adding the Orioles and Red Sox to the list of potential suitors. The New York Yankees have also checked in on Fried, but their primary focus remains on bringing back Juan Soto, alongside secondary options like Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell.
Fried, who will turn 31 in January, has been a key figure in the Atlanta Braves’ pitching rotation, with a career ERA of 3.07 over 884 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate (23.9%) and walk rate (6.8%) are both above average, while his ground-ball rate (54.4%) ranks among the best in the league. Despite being limited by a forearm injury in 2023, he managed 14 starts and continued to perform at a high level when healthy. MLB Trade Rumors projects Fried will seek a long-term contract around $156 million over six years, which has attracted interest from multiple teams.
The Blue Jays are actively looking to bolster their rotation, which currently includes José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt. With some payroll flexibility, the Jays could add Fried to strengthen their pitching staff, though they must also consider other roster needs, such as infield, outfield, and bullpen positions.
The Orioles also face rotational needs after losing Corbin Burnes to free agency. Their current rotation consists of Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, and Dean Kremer, with limited depth due to Kyle Bradish’s Tommy John surgery and struggles from Trevor Rogers and Albert Suárez. Now that David Rubenstein has purchased the team, speculation suggests the Orioles might finally be prepared to invest in multi-year deals after a long rebuild.
Boston is likewise in the market for a left-handed starter to raise the competitive level of their pitching rotation. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow expressed the team’s goal to strengthen its core group of Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford. Boston has also shown interest in White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, who had a solid 2024 season after transitioning to a starting role. The White Sox are open to trade talks for Crochet, who is under budget at a projected salary of $2.9 million.
Meanwhile, the Yankees, though focused on Soto, could explore Fried or other top pitchers should they miss out on their main target. Similarly, the Padres, Dodgers, and other contenders remain active in the pitching market, with each team’s strategy likely to shift as the offseason progresses.
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