Reports: A deal has just been finalized between Los Angeles Dodgers and rivals to trade top experienced pitcher in a blockbuster deal worth….Read more

Veteran left-handed pitcher Max Fried is set to pursue more lucrative chances as a free agent after receiving a qualifying offer from the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

After multiple years of invaluable service to the Braves’ pitching staff, Fried may soon be leaving for a different club. Many baseball insiders are not sure the Los Angeles Dodgers will pursue him, but they are among the clubs who could be interested in his talents.

On Saturday night, Fried was spotted eating dinner in Los Angeles with other Dodgers players, leading to rumors of a potential trade. His high school pal Jack Flaherty, as well as Freddie Freeman, Miguel Rojas, Daniel Hudson (a reliever), Gavin Lux (second baseman), Mookie Betts (right field), and Tommy Edman (utility man), were all there with the Dodgers.

Although Fried is considered one of the top free agents, many experts believe that the Dodgers may not be his final destination, and this gathering has only served to fuel those suspicions. According to CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson, the left-handed pitcher’s most likely landing locations are with the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants, or the New York Mets.

It was our intention to publish a comprehensive roster of left-handed starting pitchers whose ERA+ is higher than Fried’s since the start of the 2020 season, but we encountered an issue while trying to assemble the names. Anderson noted that no malicious pitcher with a respectable total of at least 200 innings was able to achieve a better position than him in that statistic.

In any case. The capacity to control contact is the root of Fried’s long-term success. Last season, he achieved an impressive feat by consistently creating about 60% ground balls and ranking in the 95th percentile for average exit velocity. The fact that Fried has only reached the 180-inning mark once in his career is his most significant detriment. Considering the league’s trajectory over the last decade, we don’t think that will be detrimental to him.

With the Braves since his 2017 debut, Fried has been an integral part of the pitching staff. He has been an integral part of the Braves’ success, helping them win the National League East from 2018–2023, and getting them to the playoffs for the seventh year in a row in 2023. After placing second in 2022 and sixth in 2019, he was nominated for the Cy Young Award.

Over the past three seasons, he has made 73 starts and produced a solid 2.80 ERA, earning him two All-Star selections for his consistent success. His stellar performance has cemented his position as a top free agent pitcher, and he will undoubtedly get interest from clubs seeking to strengthen their rotations.