MLB Trade Rumors: Max Fried Linked To Team He's DOMINATED In His Career

As Max Fried nears unrestricted free agency, the Chicago Cubs are a prime candidate to sign him this winter, according to Zach Pressnell of Fansided.

Known for his exemplary performances, particularly at Wrigley Field, Fried has compiled an impressive 1.38 ERA over 26 innings across four career starts at the venue, as noted by Pressnell.

His dominance includes a recent complete game three-hitter against the Cubs, further highlighting his potential as a strategic addition to their rotation. With the Cubs seeking to enhance their pitching staff, Fried's consistent success at their home ballpark makes him a prime target.

Games like tonight are the ones that make Fried leaving even worse.

That's my ace.

9IP | 3H | 1ER | 9K | 0BB #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/MbTyXN5y2k

— Max Fried Stash (Extend👏Max👏Fried👏) (@MaxFriedstash) May 23, 2024

The Cubs' rotation currently has reliable pitchers at the top, such as Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Javier Assad, but there's a notable drop-off in stability in the lower rotation spots.

The transition of Kyle Hendricks, who has had the worst season of his career, to the bullpen underscores a clear need for a high-caliber pitcher like Fried. The Cubs are keen on Fried not only to bolster their rotation but also to make a strong push in the competitive NL Central, aiming to transform their pitching staff into one of the league's best.

Over his eight-year career, the 30-year-old holds an impressive 3.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, with 745 strikeouts across 768.2 innings and 149 appearances (132 starts).

Max Fried got 6 swords last night and that's the most we've seen a pitcher collect in one game since Statcast started tracking them this season. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/aF7OfM2ZVS

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 23, 2024

However, securing Fried will be challenging given his stature as one of the premier pitchers in MLB and his long-standing tenure with the Braves.

The Cubs are in a good position to make a competitive offer to attract Fried to Chicago this offseason, leveraging his familiarity and success at Wrigley Field as key selling points.

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports