MLB Rumors: Max Fried Linked To Powerhouse Team This Offseason
Despite a challenging 2024 season in which he missed 73 games due to a strained left forearm and posted a 10-10 record with a 3.42 ERA, Fried remains one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game.
His ties to Los Angeles, as a Harvard-Westlake High School alum, have only fueled speculation about a potential return to California.
Bleacher Report’s Tyler Ward captured the growing belief around this move, stating, "Max Fried and the Dodgers, it is a matter of when, not if."
Max Fried, 97mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/07JkFY9LJe
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 31, 2024
The Dodgers are expected to retool their starting rotation after an injury-riddled 2024 season.
While Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are expected to return, there are lingering concerns about Clayton Kershaw’s recovery from shoulder surgery and Shohei Ohtani’s ability to pitch in 2025.
With so many uncertainties, Fried would offer L.A. a proven and consistent arm. Ward further noted, “The L.A. Dodgers feel like such a nice fit for Max Fried,” highlighting the natural alignment between the Dodgers’ needs and Fried’s talent.
This situation was completely bungled by Major League Baseball. What do the Braves do now with Chris Sale and Max Fried? They either won't have them for Monday's games or the opening round of the playoffs.
— Josh McKinney (@SuperJMac32) September 25, 2024
Garbage. https://t.co/cGlaWJDm7v
Although the Atlanta Braves may still want to retain Fried, their hesitation to offer long-term deals to starting pitchers could open the door for the Dodgers to swoop in with their financial firepower.
Some believe the San Francisco Giants could also make a play, but many analysts agree the Dodgers are the frontrunners.
As Ward concluded, “We’re gonna see some big overpays in this market, and I think Max Fried going out West is inevitable.”
Photo Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
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