Braves should consider projected $195 million star as top priority

The 2024 Major League Baseball regular season will end in a few weeks and then once the postseason ends, free agency will be the next big topic to talk about.

It's certainly going to be an important offseason for the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta luckily doesn't have too many free agents to worry about this offseason, but the biggest one certainly is ace Max Fried.

If the Braves want to get back to contending in 2025, landing him on a long-term deal should be their top priority. It's unclear what their chances are of re-signing him, but he is projected to receive a deal of around $195 million, according to The Athletic's Tim Britton.

"Fried’s 2023 wasn’t what he wanted it to be, as he missed time with a hamstring strain, a forearm strain, and a blister," Britton said. "Taking that season at face value would leave Fried in the Kevin Gausman Tier of contracts, probably around the $24 million AAV I projected this time last year. But Fried has typically been healthy, none of those 2023 injuries foreshadow something too ominous down the line, and he performed close to his usual standards when on the mound. So an extension should take that into account...

"Let’s value his free-agent years at $30 million per year for six seasons — he’s a year older than (Corbin Burnes) — to add on top of this year’s salary. 2024 salary: $15 million. Extension projection: Seven years, $195 million."

He certainly will be expensive to retain, but the Braves should do everything possible to do so.

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