Max Fried is another player the Braves let walk after the 2024 season, and while it was understandable not to want to pay him the $218 million he got from the New York Yankees, that's feeling like a mistake. The Braves have done nothing to replace Max FriedAtlanta Braves general manager and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConnectLetting Fried walk is understandable, but shouldn't the Braves then have a backup plan? But the Braves haven't made a single notable starting pitching addition since letting Fried walk. Elder has been better in 2026, but he still leads the Braves in innings pitched. Letting Fried walk, only to not replace him and not spend the money he'd have made, has made it harder for them to compete.