LHP Max Fried on Blue Jays radar.
Left handed starter Max Fried is one of the top pitchers available in free agency this offseason.
The Blue Jays are one of the clubs with interest, per�Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.
Toronto is eager to rebound from a tough 2024 season, and with one year left until both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette become free agents, the Blue Jays need to make some additions this winter to get back into the postseason picture.
They'll take a run at Juan Soto, but adding a top starting pitcher to go along with Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and José Berr�os could be the best path to contention.
Given Fried's track record of success, he's sure to be popular in the coming weeks and months. It was reported earlier this week that the Jays are planning to pursue starting pitching.�
The Blue Jays offseason needs are numerous. They need a big outfield bat, a DH, a third baseman, bullpen help, and it wouldn't hurt to add a starter as well.
President Mark Shapiro said he expects next year's payroll to be in the same range as 2024's.
The Blue Jays finished 2024 with a $235 million payroll for competitive balance tax purposes.
Cot's Baseball Contracts estimates their current 2025 commitments at $19
Fried, 31 in January, has tossed 884 1/3 innings for Atlanta in his career. In that time, he allowed 3.07 earned runs per nine.
His 23.9% career strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate are both a bit better than average while his 54.4% ground ball rate is quite strong.
Fried was one of the few fixtures on the Atlanta Braves who didn't succumb to a season-ending injury in 2024.
Injuries plagued him in 2023, but Fried stepped up in a big way this past season after the Braves lost Spencer Strider after UCL surgery.
Armed with seven different pitches, Fried has plus stuff on four of those pitches in his arsenal. That's a deadly repertoire to work with, and Chris Bassitt can relate when it comes to the number of pitches at a starter's disposal.
Fried has been one of the top pitchers in baseball when healthy, ranking behind only Gerrit Cole with 71 wins since 2019.
He's also given the Braves some excellent postseason performances despite a checkered October track record overall.
The Blue Jays need to step up and grab a proven starter Fried checks all the boxes.
Jays fans are tired of all the Interest, Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins need to make something significant happen soon.
