With Spencer Strider on the shelf, the Atlanta Braves' rotation is clearly being tested. Chris Sale remains the lone starter the franchise can rely on in a postseason start. While Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, Hurston Waldrep, and Bryce Elder have all had great moments or stretches, there is a lack of a proven postseason resume. One that current New York Yankee and former Atlanta ace Max Fried offered.
Fried walked away at the end of 2024 in favor of signing an eight-year deal for $218 million with the Yankees. While the southpaw is currently dealing with injuries of his own, it is clear the Braves made a poor decision walking away from the table. In the 2025 season, Fried won 19 games and offered a 2.86 ERA, showing just how elite the veteran pitcher is capable of being in the right setting.
Atlanta is well aware of this with the veteran helping fuel the team's 2021 World Series run. Still, the Braves opted to bet on Strider being able to return and replace the lost production. This was a gamble the franchise has clearly lost with the presence of Fried, more than pushing the opinion that this team would be the World Series favorites and have the needed rotation depth.
Braves Have Every Reason to Regret Parting Ways with Starter Max Fried
Having Sale and Fried at the top of Atlanta's rotation would be life-changing for the Braves in the fact it takes away the current biggest concern. This was on display in this past weekend's series against the Milwaukee Brewers, with Bryce Elder imploding without warning and getting knocked around in a way that you know Fried is above when the postseason rolls around.
Atlanta's rotation simply has more postseason questions than answers, making it clear that parting ways with a proven performer was a mistake. There is no reversing this, and New York clearly isn't a team that is going to sell as they sit in the thick of the postseason race. This leaves the Braves with the clear choice of betting on their current youth or searching for a blockbuster addition.
For Fried, there has to be a small part of the starter that regrets leaving Atlanta, watching just how special this year's team has a chance to be. A team that is lacking one clear presence at the top of the rotation that Fried could easily provide. No question, the Braves made a clear mistake letting the left-hander walk away so easily.
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