The Atlanta Braves’ greatest question going into the winter will undoubtedly be the future of ace Max Fried.
Fried has starred for the Braves over the last eight years, but he will be a free agent at the end of the season and is expected to cash in. He has been everything the Braves could have dreamed for over the years, leading the team to a World Series victory. He’s received numerous personal awards, including All-Star nominations and Gold Glove Awards.
If Atlanta loses Fried this offseason, it will need to sign another starter in free agency or make a trade. If this is the case, Luis Severino, a former New York Yankees and current New York Mets standout, could make an excellent fit.
This season, he has made 30 starts for the Mets, posting a 3.79 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 156 to 59. Severino had a bad season in 2023 but has improved well and is now expected to get a multi-year contract in free agency.
Severino will be substantially less expensive than Fried and other elite starters, but his output is comparable to Fried’s. The huge righty is a two-time All-Star who is only 30 years old. If the Braves do lose Fried, he should be the club’s best free agent option to stay in contention without breaking the money.
