It sounds like the Braves have a replacement for Max Fried, but there’s a catch.

Atlanta Braves free agent starting pitcher Max Fried could be on his way out soon after becoming interested in baseball by early winter. While Alex Anthopoulos and Atlanta would prefer to keep Fried, the odds are stacked against them as his market value rises.

The Braves have proven they have a good starting rotation even without Fried. Chris Sale should win the NL Cy Young this week. Reynaldo Lopez was yet another canny addition to Anthopoulos – and who’s to say he won’t make another? Charlie Morton remains an option if the Braves want him in center field. Spencer Schwellenbach surprised us all in 2024 and may be the best young player in Atlanta.

Spotrac pegs Fried’s market value at just under $23 million. At that price—and with a shorter-term deal—the Braves could be among the contenders. Damn it, most applicants should participate. However, I have a hard time believing he’ll sign for that number, and the closer Fried gets to $30 million AAV, the less likely he is to stay in ATL.

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Luckily, the Braves have a backup plan, and it’s a good one. Rival executives believe Atlanta should be among the favorites to acquire White Sox ace Garrett Crochet via trade.

“The Sox would rather put him in the NL,” one voter said. “I don’t exclude other clubs with a large market. Where Garrett wants to sign his extension is a big factor, and he believes Atlanta is the most attractive landing spot for him long-term.”

This is a valid point. No team, even one as bad as the White Sox, wants a trade to come back to haunt them. Ultimately, it would make sense for Chris Getz to accept the better offer, but the National League team would have the advantage if the trade packages were equal.

An ESPN poll of MLB executives found the Braves and Mets to be the most likely suitors for Crochet. However, New York had a one-vote advantage.

This is the rub in any pursuit of a hook. The White Sox would be wise to listen to the Mets as they have a lot of up-and-coming talent, especially hitters, which Chicago needs more of in their system. The Braves will need to assemble the same amount of talent, which could mean subtraction from the MLB roster. Atlanta’s system is not as strong as it once was.

Crochet would be a great addition to the Braves rotation and may have better stuff than Fried when healthy. The rest of baseball knows this too, so making a deal won’t be easy.