The Atlanta Braves will enter free agency with some major questions.
Atlanta will have some money to spend, and there may be a need in the starting rotation. Max Fried will hit free agency, and there has been speculation that he will leave the organization after eight seasons with the team.
If the Braves lose Fried, will they look to add another pitcher in free agency? It may make a lot of sense, and FOX Sports’ Rowan Kavner cited Texas Rangers star Nathan Eovaldi as a potential fit.
“A vesting player option kicked in this year for Eovaldi when he tallied more than 300 innings over the past two years in Texas,” according to Kavner. “At 34, he’s still quite effective, and his track record of postseason success should make him an appealing short-term addition for a contender. Possible fits include the Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Braves, and Boston Red Sox.
Eovaldi has a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts with the Rangers in 2024. He had a 3.63 ERA over 25 starts in 2023, earning his second All-Star nod and helping lead Texas to the World Series.
If Fried were to leave, Eovaldi would be a worthy https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/market-value/_/id/8761/nathan-eovaldi replacement. He will be significantly cheaper and is projected to get a two-year, $49 million deal this winter, while Fried is expected to clear $100 million.
Eovaldi is a big-game pitcher who has had plenty of playoff success. Atlanta is hoping to get back to the postseason in 2025, and Eovaldi could help with that.
