Another Max Fried arbitration hearing could have lasting impact on Braves future

For the second consecutive year, the Atlanta Braves failed to reach an arbitration agreement with their young ace, Max Fried. This has prompted rumors of his eventual departure.

If Max Fried does eventually get the long-term contract extension he’s looking for, then perhaps he can think back fondly on his arbitration frustrations with the Braves as a stepping stone on the way to greater things. For now, though, it has to be a point of contention.

Fried has proven he can lead this Atlanta pitching staff, and at 28 years old, has already finished in the top-5 of NL Cy Young voting on two separate occasions, including second this past year. Fried has three Gold Gloves to his name, as well, drawing comparisons to Greg Maddux in his heyday.

So, why won’t the Braves just give Fried what he wants? Such isn’t the nature of salary arbitration.

Atlanta Braves, Max Fried are at an impasse

Going to salary arbitration does offer Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos a chance to negotiate a long-term agreement with Max Fried. He would be wise to do so now if they have any intention to keep him — look no further than the Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson sagas before him.

Fried will not become a free agent until 2025. His trade value is quite high, should Atlanta wish to pursue that route, as well. The left-hander’s name was floated by pundits earlier this offseason as a potential trade target down the line. The Braves have a habit for getting those most out of their assets, and knowing when is the right time to part ways.

Anthopoulos and Brian Snitker do have rotational depth behind Fried. Should Ian Anderson bounce back, or Mike Soroka come back from injury in respectable form, then suddenly the thought of losing a player like Fried doesn’t become such a scary one.

The Braves signed Spencer Strider long-term for a reason — the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up has a bright future ahead of him and it could be atop Atlanta’s rotation. However, they’d prefer to have both he and Fried.

Why would an arbitration hearing make a difference?

In these settings, teams must argue why their dollar amount is an adequate representation of the player’s value. In doing so, they often argue against their player’s value altogether, making some harsh statements that can come back to haunt them.

The Braves are not new to this matter, and will likely tread lightly with a player like Fried. But, going to an arbitration hearing with the same player on multiple occasions is not wise.