Braves All-Star predicted to dump Atlanta for $175 million deal with Blue Jays | Sporting News

The Atlanta Braves were decimated by injuries last season.

Looking to get back on track in 2025, they may be without one of the pillars of their recent success.

While making contract predictions for the top remaining free agents, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicted that Max Fried would leave the Braves to sign a seven-year, $175 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

"Aaron Nola signed a seven-year, $172 million extension with the Philadelphia Phillies at the same age last winter, and while Nola has been more consistent and durable throughout his career, Fried is the second-best arm on the market right now and is capable of ace-caliber production," wrote Reuter.

"The Blue Jays were ready to break the bank for Shohei Ohtani last winter, and they will be motivated to convince free-agent-to-be Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

they are serious about contending." Fried has spent his entire big-league career with the Braves.

He is a two-time All-Star and made 29 starts last season.

He had a 3.25 ERA last season and struck out 166 batters.

The Blue Jays are in the mix to land Juan Soto.

If he chooses to sign elsewhere the team could allocate funds to multiple free agents.

Fried would be a great addition to a rotation that already includes Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios.

"When healthy, Max Fried has been one of the best pitchers in baseball the past several seasons for the Atlanta Braves, and after dealing with some arm issues in 2023 he tallied 29 starts and 174.1 innings pitched in his contract year," wrote Reuter.

More MLB: Beloved Dodgers slugger could dump LA for Blue Jays after Juan Soto miss.

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