The Atlanta Braves standout might be the Baltimore Orioles’ replacement for Corbin Burnes.
If the Baltimore Orioles lose Corbin Burnes this offseason, they will face some difficult decisions. They’d need a replacement because this squad is still seeking to win the World Series.
Losing him would be disastrous for a variety of reasons.
Not only do they have some questions about their future rotation as a result of injuries, but other teams have already demonstrated a willingness to spend more on free agents.
Unless the Orioles make a trade, as they did for Burnes last offseason, they may struggle to sign free agents.
No matter what, if they lose him, they must replace him. If they don’t have an ace-caliber arm to face the New York Yankees and other elite American League clubs in the postseason, their prospects of winning the World Series will be substantially reduced.
However, if they lose him, there will be other choices available. One of those is Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Max Fried, whom Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly identified as a potential suitor for Baltimore.
“Alex Anthopoulos, Atlanta’s president of baseball operations, has let most great players looking to maximize their value in free agency, including Josh Donaldson, Freddie Freeman, and Swanson, walk. Fried could be next if he refuses to accept the hometown discount. The Yankees, Orioles, Astros, Cubs, Mets, and Dodgers are all potential suitors.”
Fried hasn’t been as dominant as Burnes throughout his career, but he has produced some outstanding stats. He’s had a terrible campaign compared to previous years, with his ERA reaching its highest point since the 2019 season.
Fried still has a 3.50 ERA and 126 strikeouts after 133 2/3 innings pitched. The goal is that he can return to his 2022 form, when he had a 2.48 ERA and struck out 170 batters in 185 1/3 innings pitched.
Nonetheless, if the Orioles don’t want to spend as much money as they’ll probably have to in order to keep Burnes, Fried might be a terrific fit.
The best-case situation would be to re-sign Burnes and bring in a pitcher like Fried. A situation like that one remains to be seen.
With the playoffs coming up, Baltimore will have much more on their minds than the offseason.
In a few months, it’s a reality they’ll have to face.