Well, Braves fans, here we are. Max Fried is in pinstripes. It’s not exactly a shocker — we all saw the writing on the wall — but it still stings like an icy wind to the face.
The New York Yankees swooping in and snagging one of your cornerstone starters leaves you with that hollow “now what?” feeling, like when you realize you left the oven on at home after getting halfway to work. The offseason doesn’t stop to mourn. It’s time to check out what the Braves can do next because they need someone to plug that rotation hole as soon as Opening Day is coming.
Alright, let’s dig in and see what we’ve got. Free-agent arms are disappearing off the board faster than Thanksgiving leftovers. Blake Snell? Gone to the Dodgers. Nathan Eovaldi? Locked back in with the Rangers. Luis Severino? He’s settled with another team. So, what’s left?
The Braves need a solid arm, but the options are getting thin. And yeah, it’s easy to joke about picking up a middle-of-the-rotation guy like Matt Boyd or Alex Cobb, but let’s not kid ourselves. Those ships have sailed.
But don’t hit the panic button just yet. Some names are still in the mix, even if they don’t set off fireworks.
Braves Free-Agent Options
Let’s start with the familiar face: Charlie Morton. Good ol’ Uncle Charlie. You know exactly what you’re getting from him. He’s dependable, even if Father Time has him cornered at 41 years old. If he re-signs, the rotation stays relatively stable — minus Fried, of course — until Spencer Strider makes his triumphant return.
But hold on. Reports suggest Morton might want to stick close to his Bradenton, Fla. home, meaning teams like the Orioles, Rays, or Pirates could easily swoop in. If that happens, well, it’s back to the drawing board.
Another name to consider is Jack Flaherty. He had a comeback moment with the Tigers and managed to secure a spot on the Dodgers’ World Series roster. There was some chatter a month ago from Bleacher Report about the Braves potentially signing him to a three-year, $60 million deal.
But that’s just one speculative prediction — not exactly a groundswell of insider buzz. Plus, multi-year commitments might make the Braves itchy, considering they have a batch of prospects who could also be trade bait.
Then there’s Sean Manaea. He’s a name to keep in the back pocket although no serious connections are in place. And if we want to get a little wild? There’s Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
The Braves have been tossed into the mix as potential landing spots for either of these aging aces. Come on, though; we’ve got to see it and believe it. Big splashes like that don’t happen every day, especially with short-term deals being the Braves’ preference.
Atlanta’s Trade Possibilities
When it comes down to it, the trade market might be the Braves’ best bet. It’s not the easiest road, but it’s a reliable way to land a solid arm without gambling on a long-term contract.
A name that’s floated around? Erick Fedde. Remember him from the deadline trade rumors when he was with the White Sox? He’s affordable, reliable, and finished last season with a solid 3.30 ERA. At $7.5 million, he’d be a tidy, no-nonsense addition.
Then there’s Jordan Montgomery. His first year with the Diamondbacks was — let’s call it what it was — a disaster, wrapping up with a 6.23 ERA. But here’s the kicker: the Diamondbacks’ owner can’t stand him, and Montgomery doubled down by exercising his 2025 option out of pure spite. The Braves could relieve Arizona of that headache.
And, of course, we can’t rule out a surprise move. Alex Anthopoulos loves to keep us on our toes. Remember how no one saw Chris Sale coming last year? The Braves GM has a knack for pulling off trades that make fans scratch their heads one minute and cheer the next.
The Clock is Ticking
Whatever path the Braves take, they’ve got to get moving. December might feel early, but pitchers and catchers report in just 60 days. In baseball terms, that’s a blink. The rotation needs to be ready for the grind, and with Fried gone, there’s no time for hesitation.
It’s not the dream scenario, but when you’re the Braves, you always find a way.
