Soon enough, speculation swirling around Atlanta Braves star Max Fried will stop.
Fried is a two-time All-Star and has been one of the most dependable options for Atlanta over the last eight years. He helped lead the Braves to a World Series title, but he is a free agent and it's unclear if he will be back.
All of the speculation and rumors point to Fried ultimately leaving the organization this winter. While this is the case, nothing substantial has been reported and there's certainly still a chance he could come back.
If he does decide to leave Atlanta, though, The Athletic's Jim Bowden called the Baltimore Orioles his "favorite match" for the star lefty.
"Favorite match: Orioles," Bowden said. "Although the Orioles are fighting to retain (Corbin Burnes), he is expected to depart in free agency, so they’ll likely need a top-of-the-rotation starter to replace him. Fried would fit nicely. He’s as consistent as they come and one of the best lefty ground-ball pitchers in the league. The Orioles’ decision to move in their left-field wall shouldn’t hurt Fried’s effectiveness much due to his ground-ball rate (58.2 percent in 2024).
"Their plethora of infielders bodes well for the defense behind him. Fried’s postseason experience and ability to perform in the biggest moments are qualities the Orioles need. Though I also like his fit back with the Braves or with teams such as the (New York Mets) and (San Francisco Giants), I just think the Orioles need him more than the other teams."
Baltimore -- like Atlanta -- has to worry about a star pitcher in free agency. Orioles star Corbin Burnes is available and may end up leaving. If that becomes a reality, it's more realistic that the Orioles could pay the high price to sign Fried.
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