Speculation in Major League Baseball: Max Fried, Braves Reach $15M Deal for 2024, Avoid Arbitration.

In order to avoid arbitration, Max Fried and the Atlanta Braves came to an agreement on a $15 million contract for the 2024 season, as reported by Robert Murray of FanSided.

Fried’s contract limits his time under team control to the 2024 campaign; if an extension is not reached between the two parties before then, he will be eligible to sign free agency the following season.

In 2023, Fried struggled with a number of injuries and only made 14 appearances throughout the regular season, recording a 2.55 ERA.

With a 2.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 170 strikeouts in 185.1 innings in 2022, the 29-year-old was an All-Star. He also won his third career Gold Glove and was second in the Cy Young voting.

Along with going 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 56 innings during the shorter 2020 season, he also placed in the top five in the Cy Young vote.

His 2021 season, which included a World Series championship, was undoubtedly his most memorable, and it fell in between those two outstanding seasons. In 165.2 innings pitched, he recorded a 3.04 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 158 strikeouts.

In addition, Fried delivered six scoreless innings to guarantee his place in Braves history with Atlanta’s decisive Game 6 victory over the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic.

Given his 2023 campaign and the fact he has never pitched more than 185.1 innings, it is reasonable to have doubts about his durability. But in terms of performance, he has shown nothing but constant consistency and excelled on the largest platform in the sport.

Now that his 2024 pay has been agreed upon, Fried may concentrate on the forthcoming season before he might go undrafted.