Insider Predicts Philadelphia Phillies' Rival Braves Will Lose Ace in Free Agency

There could be a major change in the division that benefits the Philadelphia Phillies if this prediction comes true.

The Philadelphia Phillies entered this offseason with some uncertainty surrounding their starting pitching staff.

Despite trying to work out an extension with Aaron Nola before 2023, nothing got done and he hit the open market.

For a while, there was concern that the Phillies might lose the star pitcher with so many teams looking for starters and Nola being one of the best ones available.

Ultimately, they were able to get him back on a long-term deal.

Philadelphia then turned their attention to Zack Wheeler, not wanting to risk him hitting free agency.

Again, the front office was able to get a contract worked out, signing him to a three-year extension.

This has them set up extremely well for the future as the Phillies are clearly in a window where they should be chasing World Series titles with the current roster that's been assembled.

One insider doesn't think their rival Atlanta Braves are going to be so lucky.

Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors is predicting that their ace Max Fried won't work out an extension with the Braves and will hit the open market, ultimately changing teams.

"Fried's going to want to top [Carlos] Rodon, which isn't a price range the Braves have tended to go in their extensions ... I think he'll join Dansby [Swanson] and Freddie [Freeman] as longtime Braves to hit the market and probably sign elsewhere," he writes.

If this comes true, that is major news for Philadelphia.

Fried has been one of the top starters in the game since becoming a full-time starter for Atlanta in 2019. He's finished inside the top-five of Cy Young voting twice, including a runner-up finish, and has posted four straight seasons of a 3.50 ERA.

The left-hander will play his final arbitration year under the price tag of $15 million this season.

There hasn't been much chatter about Atlanta looking to extend Fried and the Phillies will be beneficiaries if he winds up elsewhere.