While Atlanta's decision-making has been understandable since their 2021 World Series win, it has been undeniably tough. Saying goodbye to Freddie Freeman, Dansby Swanson, and Max Fried over the last few seasons hasn't been easy. It certainly doesn't help matters that Fried has been dominating with the Yankees, while the Braves are desperate to find four reliable options in their rotation. Fried has a sparkling 1.56 ERA and has looked like the best version of himself in New York.
It does help matters that Fried's $218-million contract isn't locking Atlanta into paying the veteran for the next eight seasons. Still, it is easy to imagine how different the 2025 season could look if Fried were in Atlanta to help stabilize the rotation. Having the potential trio of Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Max Fried would be the dominating rotation Atlanta was expecting for the 2024 season. The surprise emergence of Spencer Schwellenbach furthers this and would allow the team to better survive a slow offensive start and shaky bullpen.
Braves' Season Would Look Very Different with Max Fried
If we're being completely transparent, the Braves had the money and salary structure to pay Max Fried. The same can be said of both Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman. Both times, Atlanta opted to look for cheaper options and arguably won, with Swanson being overpaid and Matt Olson being a younger option that better suited the franchise timeline.
However, there is simply no way to positively spin the loss of Max Fried. The deal the veteran received was fair market value and wouldn't have hurt Atlanta's future. There are few players on Atlanta's roster near their market value, with the team following a blueprint of locking their young stars early at a discount. If you're not extended early on with the Braves, the team is likely going to move on.
As wise as this strategy has appeared to be, it cost Atlanta when the games have mattered most. Key losses have shown up over the past three seasons, and none have been more notable than the loss of Fried. Perhaps the loss would be easier to swallow if the Braves had spent in free agency. The team's lone splash is now suspended for a large chunk of the regular season and will miss any potential playoff games.
Making so few offseason moves hurt Atlanta, with no decision being more impactful than the loss of Fried. The veteran starter offered stability, eating innings and finding a way to consistently give his team a chance to win. The start of the 2025 season drives Atlanta's lack of offseason additions clear and drives home one unavoidable fact: This roster misses Max Fried.