Padres targeting top talent: Braves free agent ace on…
The San Diego Padres have a chance to spend a little money this offseason after operating on a smaller payroll in 2024. They’ll have a need for starting pitching.
After a difficult 2023 season, the Padres won 93 games and clinched the top National League Wild Card, ultimately falling just short in the NLDS against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Another starter certainly wouldn’t hurt. Left-hander Max Fried is available, and R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports believes San Diego could be a fit for him.
“Blame Fried’s sustained excellence on his ability to manage contact. He ranked in the 95th percentile in average exit velocity last season, and did it while generating nearly 60% ground balls for a second consecutive year,” Anderson wrote.
“The biggest knock on Fried is his inning count, as he’s cleared the 180 threshold just once in his career. Given the league’s direction over the past decade, we’re not inclined to think that’ll hurt him.
Fried, who was originally drafted by the Padres, won 11 games and posted a 3.25 ERA in his 29 starts with the Atlanta Braves while also pitching 174 1/3 innings and posting a 3.5 WAR.
He is somebody that can be counted on to pitch in big games and would be a tremendous addition to the Padres rotation that already features Dylan Cease, Joe Musgrove, Michael King and Yu Darvish. A move such as this could give them the best overall rotation in Major League Baseball.
The 30-year-old will certainly be expensive, but the Padres should be able to afford him, and they could certainly increase their chances of winning the NL West next year
