Shedding Max Fried is a significant blow for the Atlanta Braves. Right here’s how the group will exchange him, and why they need to look to the commerce market.
Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried began the 2023 season having allowed just one run by his first 20 innings and appeared headed for a mega-deal in free company.
However an early trip to the Injured List as a result of a hamstring pressure slowed Fried down. He returned after a multi-week absence and his fastball sat at a median 94.8 mph. However in his two most up-to-date begins, his fastball velocity dropped to 93.5 mph, and he allowed seven runs (5 earned) in opposition to the Baltimore Orioles on Could 5.
Alarm bells began to go off as soon as Braves supervisor Brian Snitker said that Fried was “going by some issues.” Now, Fried has been positioned on the 15-day IL with a strained left forearm. The excellent news is that the damage doesn’t pertain to his elbow, in line with sources. The dangerous information for Fried and the Braves is that that is anticipated to be an prolonged absence.
The truth that the damage doesn’t pertain to his elbow means that it’s going to have little impact on Fried’s free company within the offseason. He’s nonetheless slated to be among the many high beginning pitchers accessible, with different choices together with Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Nola, Jordan Montgomery, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty, amongst others.
However the damage places the Braves’ rotation in a precarious place. Their rotation now options Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder. They may seemingly name up Dylan Dodd, Jared Shuster or Mike Soroka from the minors, although each Dodd and Shuster have struggled briefly major-league motion and Soroka remains to be eight months faraway from his second Achilles tendon surgical procedure.
It might power Braves normal supervisor Alex Anthopoulos to discover the commerce market. He has proven a willingness to make trades nicely earlier than the commerce deadline up to now and one early vendor may very well be the Chicago White Sox, who boast free-agents-to-be Mike Clevinger and Lucas Giolito, in addition to star right-hander Dylan Stop. Shedding Fried is a large blow for the Braves. There’s no different means round it. How lengthy he’s out — and the way the franchise goes about filling that void — might very nicely find yourself deciding who wins a stacked Nationwide League East.
How will the Atlanta Braves exchange Max Fried?
