Max Fried has officially declined the Atlanta Braves’ qualifying offer, a move widely anticipated given his desire for a multi-year deal. The left-hander, who is coming off his second All-Star season with an 11-10 record and a 3.25 ERA, was offered a one-year, $21.05 million contract but was never expected to accept it.
While Fried is now a free agent, the Braves have expressed interest in keeping him, though they understand that numerous teams will vie for his services. Over the last seven seasons, Fried has proven to be one of the most dominant pitchers when healthy, ranking second only to Gerrit Cole in wins since 2019.
Though injury concerns have followed him throughout his career, Fried remains one of the top starters on the market, joining a group that includes Corbin Burnes, Roki Sasaki, and Blake Snell. With his postseason pedigree and consistency, Fried is set to attract significant interest this offseason. Will he return to Atlanta, or is a new chapter on the horizon for the 30-year-old pitcher? Stay tuned.
