The Atlanta Braves and parting ways with franchise players has become an all-too-common theme over the last handful of seasons. Whether we look all the way back to Freddie Freeman or last season's decision to part ways with ace Max Fried, it is a line of decisions that haven't aged well. Fried is coming off an incredible season, going 19-5 with a 2.83 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 32 starts with the New York Yankees this season, which was good enough to get him named to MLB's first team honor, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Joining Fried is a list that helps illustrate just what a mistake Atlanta made parting ways with the left-handed starter. Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto completed the list of MLB's first team selections at the position. Notably, not a single Braves player made MLB's first or second team, with Fried being the only clear tie to the organization on either list.
For Atlanta, the season that the lefty just finished should serve as a wake-up call that the way they are operating is no longer working. Opting to pay players early at a discount and letting any stars walk who don't follow this path helped build the dumpster fire that was the 2025 season. There simply is no excuse for the level of ineptitude when it comes to retaining star players who should be looked at as franchise cornerstones.
Braves' Max Fried Fumble Highlights Organizational Issues
The Braves have become a cheap organization in the fact that they are willing to spend, but only if it meets the expectations of a front office that appears to consistently outthink itself. Paying Freeman and Fried were easy decisions that the Braves chose to complicate, and both times they have paid the price.
Freeman's season ended with his second straight World Series title, while Fried's season would end in the postseason's earlier rounds. Both players were pivotal pieces to good teams while the Braves were out of the wildcard race by late July. It's also worth noting that Fried just finished fourth in the 2025 American League Cy Young voting race.
If there was any doubt what a fumble it was letting the elite southpaw walk away, the season and recognition from the league served as a clear wake-up call. Fried should've remained in an Atlanta uniform for the bulk of his career, if not all of it. Instead, he is the latest cornerstone to begin a new legacy with a prestige franchise that will help rewrite the perception of his career and how it will be remembered.
For Atlanta, it has to serve as a clear message that moving forward, this cannot be how the front office operates. Even if this means making changes within leadership and decision-makers, you cannot afford to continue to deal with this level of ineptitude. Winning is all that matters, and the Braves have continued to jettison winning players, believing they could find cheaper answers. The results speak for themselves, making it clear that Atlanta must make drastic changes or continue to pay the consequences.