The burning question for Atlanta Braves this winter is how they will improve their core and perhaps extend a wide-open World Series window. However, that may not force Atlanta to keep starting pitcher Max Fried.

Fried has struggled to stay healthy through a full season two years in a row. His last playoff start left a bad taste in his mouth. And as he gets older, Fried will undoubtedly throw contact, if he doesn’t already. The thirty-year-old it’s not the flashy signaturebut is still expected to earn around $23 million per year, according to Spotrac. Whether it will be cheap enough for the Braves to keep him in familiar surroundings remains to be seen.

“He’s been a partner in many ways,” Anthopoulos said in early October. “Forget he’s a two-time All-Star and one of the best lefties in the game. The way he handled himself, the way he handled himself in the community, with us in the front office, obviously the players and the coaching staff, I have a very high regard for him and I admire him. We’d love to have him back, but 30 teams would love to have Max Fried.”

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This last sentence is particularly damning, but true. The Braves won’t be alone in their pursuit of Fried. If they fail – which is a realistic expectation when a player hits free agency – who should they turn to?

There are many options, but Luis Severino might be more affordable. Yes, Severino has just had a solid season with the New York Mets. He signed a one-year contract in New York and bet on himself. Now, Severino is ready to cash in after posting a 3.91 ERA and being a key cog in the Mets rotation.

Meanwhile, New York president of baseball operations David Stearns could be distracted, aiming higher at free agent targets like Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes, and allowing Severino to slip through the cracks.

Severino had his most innings – 182 – since 2018 and would be considered a rotation upgrade for most teams.

The Braves aren’t necessarily one of them, because Severino isn’t Fried, but maybe that’s a good thing. Atlanta can save money by adding Severino and letting Fried go, as long as they reinvest that capital into the team itself.