Braves World Series champion could bolt Atlanta for Mets after strong 2024

The New York Mets have some questions to answer this offseason after falling short in the NLCS to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sean Manaea and Luis Severino are both free agents, which means the Mets may have to dive into the market to add a starter or two. Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer listed them as a potential landing spot for left-hander Max Fried.

"Why the Mets as a fit for Fried? 

Well, because they're the Mets," Rymer wrote.

"Though there's a better case for Corbin Burnes and at least as good a case for [Blake] Snell, signing Fried is about as well as the Mets can do as they seek to fill out their rotation.

The bonus, of course, is that signing him would mean swiping a key player from a top NL East rival. And this one happens to have a career 2.57 ERA at Citi Field from his time as a Brave."

Fried went 11-10 in 29 starts with Atlanta in 2024, posting a 3.25 ERA in 174 1/3 innings of work along with a 3.5 WAR. He has a reputation of pitching well in big games, having won the clinching Game 6 of the World Series for the Braves in 2021.

But he can eat innings and is a reliable top-of-the-rotation starter that could benefit the Mets. Having somebody like Fried next to Kodai Senga should give the Mets a major boost as they try to bounce back from their NLCS loss.

The future is bright in New York, and they may ultimately be wise to try and pursue Fried.

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