As the Atlanta Braves' season ends, the offseason rumor mill is approaching warp speed.
The Braves lost 5-4 to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, knocking them out of the National League playoffs in the Wild Card round. Not only was it the end of their season, but it could have been the end of their starting pitcher's career in Atlanta.
Max Fried, a homegrown Braves All-Star, picked up the loss on Wednesday night at Petco Park, allowing five earned runs in just two innings. It was a sad ending to an otherwise excellent year for the longtime Braves ace.
Rumors have flown about Fried going everywhere, with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers becoming something of an early favorite in the guessing game. But perhaps the comforts of home will be too tantalizing to pass up for the eight-year veteran.
After the loss on Wednesday, Fried spoke about his time in Atlanta glowingly, and hinted that he'd love to come back in 2025.
“[Wearing the Braves uniform] means everything,” Fried said, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. “It's the organization that traded for me and gave me the opportunity to come to the big leagues and be an established big league player. I obviously don't know what's going to happen, but I have absolutely loved every minute of it, and hope to have many more.”
There's a great argument to be made for Fried staying in Atlanta purely because it's where he's had all his success. A World Series ring, two All-Star nods, a 73-36 record, and a 3.07 ERA are a heck of a starting point when it comes to building a legacy.
Signing Fried won't come cheap, though. He is projected to receive a $149 million contract by Spotrac, and other estimates have been closer to the $200 million range. And though he may love playing for the Braves, he's not likely to give them a hometown discount.
It's early, and plenty of thoughts will run through a free agent's head between October and the start of the signing period in early November. But if this was all for Fried in a Braves uniform, it sure was one heck of a run.
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