What a Max Fried extension with Atlanta Braves might look like

One of the biggest storylines for the Atlanta Braves this past offseason, and one that will continue through next season, is: will they be able to get an extension done with Max Fried?

One of the biggest storylines for the Atlanta Braves this past offseason, and one that will continue through next season, is: Will they be able to get an extension done with Max Fried> 

In the past two offseasons, Atlanta Braves fans have watched Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson get away in free agency. 

If they are going to avoid that same fate with ace Max Fried, then they almost certainly have to get something done before he hits free agency. 

The highest average annual value Alex Anthopoulos has given to this point is $22 million -- Fried figures to blow past that number once he hits the open market. 

And if the Braves are going to work out an extension, AA will have to go beyond that $22 million-a-year mark. 

PODCAST: Atlanta Braves: What a Max Fried Extension Might Look Like

A recent free agent comparison is Carlos Rodon who signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the New York Yankees this past offseason. 

Rodon will make close to $28 million a year in the last five years of that deal for an AAV of the entire contract being $27 million. 

Fried is still under team control through 2024 and will be entering his age 31 season when he hits free agency. 

But if he continues to pitch as he has the past three seasons, he'll easily command around $27 million a year on the open market.

A recent article in The Athletic ($) projected that an extension for Fried before the 2023 season starts could be 6 years, $144 million. 

This projection has the Braves buying out four free-agent years at $28 million a year, keeping him a Brave through his age 34 season. 

That seems like a reasonable contract for someone of Fried's caliber based on the market value. 

But will that be too risky and too expensive for Alex Anthopoulos who has yet to go over that $22 million a year mark and has really yet to give a long extension or contract to a starting pitcher in their 30s? 

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