The Atlanta Braves' biggest question mark heading into the offseason certainly will be the future of ace Max Fried.
Fried has shined for the Braves over the last eight years, but he will be a free agent at the end of the season and is in line to cash in. He has been everything the Braves could've hoped for over the years and helped lead the team to a World Series win. He's landed plenty of personal accolades, including All-Star nods and Gold Glove Awards.
If Atlanta does end up losing Fried this upcoming offseason, it will need to add another starter in free agency or through a trade. If this ends up being the case, one player who could make a lot of sense is former New York Yankees and current New York Mets star Luis Severino.
He has made 30 starts with the Mets this season and has logged a 3.79 ERA and 156-to-59 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Severino had a down 2023 season and has rebounded in a major way and now is in line to land a multi-year deal in free agency.
Severino will be significantly less expensive than Fried and other top starters, but his production isn't too far from what Fried has done. The big righty is a two-time All-Star himself and is just 30 years old. If the Braves do end up losing Fried, he should be the club's top choice in free agency to remain in contention without breaking the bank.
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