Report: Dodgers to Add Projected $195 Million All-Star Free Agent
Braves pitcher, who earned his second All-Star selection this season, hasn’t had his best year in his eight MLB seasons. Despite this, he remains one of the league’s most reliable left-handed pitchers. With his free agency approaching this offseason, there is growing speculation about whether Atlanta will retain him or if they even want to. The Dodgers might want to pay attention.
There’s anticipation that Fried could be heading back to his roots this offseason, given that he was a first-round draft pick from Harvard-Westlake High School in L.A. in 2012, the same school that recently produced Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty.
During a livestream called “MLB Offseason Landing Spots” this week, Bleacher Report’s Tyler Ward suggested that it’s highly likely Fried will join the Dodgers this offseason.
“Max Fried and the Dodgers, it’s just a matter of if, not when,” Ward stated.
Max Fried Has Struggled Lately
The Braves would obviously prefer to keep Max Fried, but his market could be affected by his performance over the past two seasons. In 2023, he dealt with hamstring and forearm injuries, limiting him to just 14 starts despite a strong 8-1 record and a 2.55 ERA.
This season, while healthy, he has been less effective, posting a 7-6 record with a 3.40 ERA and suffering losses in three consecutive starts. His WHIP has risen to 1.204, the highest since 2019, and his walk rate has increased to 3.2, the highest since 2018.
Despite these challenges, Fried remains a solid pitcher, and the Dodgers would likely value his consistency.
“Atlanta is not known for committing to long-term extensions, particularly for starting pitchers,” Ward noted.
“Given that and Fried’s West Coast background, being a California native, he would be a great addition to a Dodgers rotation that has struggled this year due to injuries but has a lot of talent. The Dodgers are expected to lose some players in the offseason, so Fried seems like a strong fit for them.”
Dodgers Will Retool the Rotation This Offseason
The Braves’ offer to Max Fried could likely be surpassed by the Dodgers, who are looking to revamp their rotation after this season. L.A. will have Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto returning next year, but other spots are uncertain.
Clayton Kershaw might come back from shoulder surgery and could return to the starting rotation, and there’s potential for Shohei Ohtani to join the team. Rookie River Ryan has shown promise as well, but none of these options are guaranteed for 2025. The Dodgers will definitely need at least one reliable starter.
Before the season, Tim Britton of The Athletic projected Fried could secure a seven-year, $195 million deal. Although his value might have decreased due to recent struggles, he is still in line for a significant contract, and the Dodgers are known for making big investments.
“We’ll definitely see some hefty overpays in this market, and I think it’s inevitable that Max Fried will head out West,” Ward said. “Some speculate the Giants might overpay for him, which wouldn’t be surprising given his California roots. However, I believe the Dodgers will ultimately be the ones to sign him.”