Mets Monday Morning GM: 5 future starting pitcher Christmas gifts we'd like to receive

2) Max Fried

It seems like many of these best pitchers are coming over from a rival of some sort. That’s to be expected. The best teams have the best pitchers. Who knew? For petty purposes, this might be the most fun one of all. In recent years, it’s the Atlanta Braves who’ve been the biggest nuisances of all for Mets fans. Signing one of their star pitchers away would feel good. They can make it happen with Max Fried.

The best way to describe Fried is as a winner. Yeah, wins don’t matter much anymore for starters. But his .705 winning percentage from a lifetime 62-26 record is astonishing. There isn’t anything overpowering about him. Fried is the kind of pitcher who succeeds by not allowing home runs or walking batters. The results speak for themselves. His 3.03 ERA adds to the evidence.

When Fried does become available, unless the Braves extend him, he’ll do so as a soon-to-be 31-year-old lefty. Notably, the Braves have extended players early in their tenure and not so much later on. Fried is one season away from free agency. An extended deal isn’t something to expect. Should the Mets strike?

Despite missing about half the 2023 season, Fried went 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA. It was business as usual only with some extra PTO used. Like with any free agent, some bias toward the recent is needed. Good health, too, will be required for the Mets to stir up a deal for Fried.