We are just a few weeks into the MLB season, and Max Fried is pitching like he wants to write the next great Yankees chapter by himself. This has left Braves fans scratching their heads. The lefty ace signed a jaw-dropping eight-year, $218 million contract with New York this past offseason, and boy, is he living up to the billing.
With Gerrit Cole sidelined for the year, Fried has been the guy in the Bronx. He’s been stepping in, stepping up, and sending a message with every pitch.
Stats Don’t Lie in Baseball
Let’s talk numbers real quick: 1.88 ERA. 1.17 WHIP. 28 strikeouts in 24 innings. That’s taking command, not just filling in.
And while Yankees fans are busy ordering Fried jerseys and adjusting their expectations upward, Atlanta Braves fans are reminiscing. This one hurts, and not just because of what Fried’s doing in pinstripes.
It’s what he could’ve been doing in Atlanta, a team that currently finds itself dead last in the NL East with a 5-13 record.
Anthopoulos’ Gamble—and Its Price
Alex Anthopoulos has built a reputation for savvy, value-driven roster building, but letting Fried walk might be the biggest eyebrow-raiser of his tenure. Sure, Atlanta doesn’t do “market price” for stars.
But maybe, just maybe, Fried was the guy to make an exception for. Homegrown ace. Lefty dominance. Postseason pedigree. That is exactly what the Braves need right now.
Because here’s the deal — the Braves’ rotation has been hit hard early. Sure, Strider’s back, Sale is figuring it out, Schwellenbach’s flashing ace upside and Holmes looks like the real deal.
That projected five-man group of Strider, Sale, Schwellenbach, López, and Holmes? Scary good. On paper. But wouldn’t it look just a little more bulletproof with Fried slotted in there?
A Tale of Two Legacies: Braves and Yankees
Fried spent eight years in Atlanta. He’s now slated for eight in New York. Which uniform will define his legacy? It’s too soon to say, but if this start is any indication, he’s about to become a Bronx legend. Even his projected stats with the Yankees were rock solid.
And Braves fans? They’ll keep dreaming of what could’ve been — a rotation with Fried, Strider, and Sale mowing down October lineups.
For now, all Atlanta can do is hope their new wave holds steady, stays healthy, and delivers. Because every gem Fried throws in pinstripes is a reminder that the ace they let walk might be the one piece they’re still missing.
