DALLAS — Max Fried’s anticipated departure was far much less dramatic than the exit of any earlier Braves star. The 2021 World Sequence hero will endlessly be an Atlanta sports activities legend — however at no level throughout this offseason was there motive to suppose he would stay with the one group he has ever recognized.
This settlement comes somewhat greater than two months after Fried made his remaining begin for Atlanta in Sport 2 of the Wild Card Sequence towards the Padres. He was emotional as he offered his postgame feedback.
“[Wearing the Braves uniform] means all the things,” Fried mentioned. “It is the group that traded for me and gave me the chance to return to the massive leagues and be a longtime large league participant. I clearly do not know what is going on to occur, however I’ve completely cherished each minute of it, and hope to have many extra.”
The free-agent departures of Freddie Freeman (after the 2021 season) and Dansby Swanson (after the ’22 season) helped construct the thought Fried could possibly be the following star to exit. The expectation grew stronger as Fried remained with out one of many extensions the Braves gave to their youthful stars over the previous couple years.
Earlier than the 2023 season started, I requested an agent to mission what Fried would possibly obtain as a free agent. The speedy response was, “It doesn’t matter, he’s not re-signing with the Braves.”
Fried completed second in 2022 Nationwide League Cy Younger Award balloting, however left forearm stiffness restricted him to 14 begins in 2023. He missed two extra weeks this previous season due to one other left forearm concern. Nonetheless, the Yankees have been keen to take a giant gamble on the hurler, who will flip 31 on Jan. 18.
Braves followers will at all times acknowledge Fried as probably the most precious items gained by way of the numerous rebuild the membership skilled from 2015-17. He was acquired from the Padres in December 2014 and debuted for Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2017. He posted a 3.07 ERA over eight seasons with the Braves and can at all times be remembered for the six scoreless innings he accomplished after his ankle was stomped whereas protecting first base within the clinching Sport 6 of the 2021 World Sequence.
Whereas Fried’s departure would possibly stir reminiscences, this growth doesn’t change the Braves’ offseason method. He was by no means thought of a candidate to fill the staff’s want for a beginning pitcher.
Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach will anchor the rotation till Spencer Strider returns from elbow surgical procedure close to the tip of April. Ian Anderson, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver function rotation depth.
However including a extra confirmed possibility may be prudent, as an alternative of assuming Sale, López and Schwellenbach will all stay wholesome and efficient after every of them exceeded workload expectations final 12 months.
Holmes and Anderson are each out of choices. It will assist each with their bid to fill no less than one of many two present rotation voids.
“We predict there’s vital upside there if [Holmes] can get a beginning spot,” president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos mentioned. “However that gained’t cease us from both buying and selling for or signing a starter. When Strider comes again, hopefully, the highest three guys we talked about are all able to go and have had no well being points.”
Sale accomplished simply 151 innings from 2020-23, however he remained wholesome till his again started bothering him in the course of the remaining weeks of this previous season. He was unavailable in the course of the Wild Card Sequence towards the Padres, however he threw a bullpen on the finish of that very same week and hasn’t had any additional points.
“I’ve talked to him a pair occasions,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “He feels nice.”
Having a wholesome Sale will assist the Braves of their try to take care of the rotation power they’d as Fried established himself over the previous few years, getting ready himself for the good payday he realized on Tuesday.
