Former NY Mets player can betray his childhood dream with logical free agent signing

What endeared Max Kranick to New York Mets fans more than his early season performance in 2025 was that he grew up a fan of the team. Although he was a kid from The Poconos, it was the Mets he rooted for as a kid. So to end up with them and thrive for any amount of time must’ve been a childhood dream come true.

Kranick was one of the players the Mets non-tendered back in November and a major league deal with him doesn’t quite seem possible. A split contract, perhaps, could be an opportunity to stash him on the roster and see how his health develops and what the roster looks like when he’s back. He’ll be someone who should return around mid-year. On Monday, he threw for the first time since his July surgery.

His 3.65 ERA in 37 innings as a multi-inning option hardly tells the story of how his year went. He was key to the team getting off to such a strong start to the year. A reunion wouldn’t be such a bad thought if the contract is safe enough, which it should be. However, Kranick would also be a match to reunite with one of the people who seemed to help unlock him this past year.

Are we going to see Max Kranick betray his Mets fandom and sign with the Braves?

Jeremy Hefner’s presence as the Atlanta Braves pitching coach has to hurt us somehow. Life doesn’t operate that smoothly. The Braves have yet to make use of employing Hefner by taking ex-Mets pitchers who raved about him or at least ones who performed their best with his guidance.

Kranick wouldn’t be the first player to end up with a rival team from the posts on his bedroom wall in elementary school. He’s in the business part of the sport. The Braves make a lot of sense and have been willing to seize opportunities with relievers who could be considered change of scenery options.

At different points last season, the Mets employed Alek Manoah, Alex Diaz, and Erick Fedde. Joel Payamps, Hector Neris, Charlie Morton, John Brebbia…a whole lot of pitchers stepped onto the mound for them for just a chance at success. Tyler Kinley is a unique trade deadline addition they did in a sell-off summer that worked out to perfection and is back with them on a new contract.

The point is: players like Kranick have been coming to the Braves regularly over the last 365 days. Atlanta took advantage of their early dibs on the waiver wire. With Kranick, it’s a little different. They’d be buying into a guy coming off of major surgery that’ll be out for the first few months. Right up the alley of what the Mets have done as well, don’t count out the Braves even if it means making Kranick’s inner child cry.