Dodgers bypass Willy Adames and sign $190 million All-Star Ace Max Fried

The Los Angeles Dodgers are still basking in the joy of winning the 2024 World Series. However, they still need to fill some roster gaps before the start of the following season.

They’ve been linked to free agency shortstop Willy Adames and appear to be a good fit. But may Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, skip the slugger in favor of signing two-time All-Star Max Fried?

Los Angeles’ expected 2025 rotation includes lots of arms. However, few hurlers arrive without questions about their health or performance. With Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler both entering free agency, it’s not surprising that the Dodgers are interested in available pitchers.

Fried’s track record with the Atlanta Braves suggests he would make a strong addition to the Los Angeles rotation. Since making his debut in 2017, the Santa Monica, California native has consistently delivered like an ace. He has a 73-36 record, a 3.07 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 863 strikeouts over 884 1/3 innings.

On paper, the Dodgers could use a starting shortstop. Adames would make the offense even better than it already is, but plenty of teams are interested in him, which could lead to a bidding war, which Los Angeles may not be willing to engage in, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Would supplementing the rotation with Fried be the club’s pivot?

According to Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies will sign Adames to an eight-year, $192 million contract, while the Dodgers will commit $190 million to Fried over seven seasons.

“Whoever lands Fried is getting a pitcher who has a 3.07 career ERA, who has eclipsed 165 innings pitched four times in the last five full seasons since 2019,” he wrote. “If the Braves were going to keep Fried, it feels like they would have signed him to an extension by now. Assuming he does walk, going to the best team in baseball would be a great landing spot for Fried, who should get at least six years and could exceed $30 million per year in free agency.”