Braves urged to poach $60 million superstar from NL playoff rival

How will the Atlanta Braves handle their starting rotation this winter?

The offense carried the Braves in their record-setting 2023 season, but it was the rotation that paced the team as it scratched and clawed its way into the playoffs in 2024. Atlanta had three starting pitchers make the All-Star Game, and Chris Sale is the prohibitive Cy Young favorite.

One of those All-Stars, Max Fried, is set to become a free agent. Fried has spent all eight years of his career in Atlanta, and losing him would be a tough pill to swallow. But given the strength of the rest of the rotation, the Braves may not want to match the nine-figure deals Fried is sure to command on the open market.

If the Braves do lose out on Fried, they have numerous free-agent options that could help replace his production. And one of those options happens to be Fried's old high school teammate in Southern California.

Wynston Wilcox of FanSided named Los Angeles Dodgers star Jack Flaherty as a top target for the Braves this winter. Flaherty is currently projected to sign a three-year, $60 million deal by Spotrac .

"Shohei Ohtani from flexing his two-way stardom in his first season in Los Angeles, Flaherty was a great addition and is proven," Wilcox said. "The Braves have to go after one of the top arms in free agency and Flaherty is a good option."

Flaherty, 29, had a resurgent season in 2024, setting himself up nicely to sign a multi-year deal after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers last winter. He was traded to the Dodgers at the deadline and posted a 13-7 record, 3.17 ERA, and 194 strikeouts in 28 starts.

Bringing in another veteran starter could be the shot in the arm the Braves need to get back in contention for a National League pennant. And taking that arm away from the Dodgers, who have been the Braves' top contender for NL supremacy the last five years, would be an added bonus.

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