Braves Face Challenges with Fried's Free Agency

The Atlanta Braves face a challenging offseason with key players Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider expected to miss the start of the 2025 season due to lingering injuries, impacting their championship aspirations. Meanwhile, the future of Max Fried, a pivotal pitcher for the Braves, is uncertain as he enters free agency. The Braves have a five-day exclusive window to negotiate before Fried can entertain offers from other teams, including the Chicago Cubs, who are keen on bolstering their pitching rotation. Fried's performance has been consistently strong, with a 3.07 ERA over his time with the Braves, but concerns over his age and recent injuries may influence contract negotiations. The Cubs, led by GM Jed Hoyer, are exploring significant roster upgrades and Fried's past connection with former teammate Dansby Swanson could be a factor in their pursuit. The Los Angeles Dodgers are also considered a potential destination for Fried, adding competitive intrigue to his free agency saga.