ATLANTA — Starting pitcher Max Fried still could receive the contract extension many Braves fans have clamored for. But the left-hander is slated to make less money than he had hoped this year.
Fried lost a salary arbitration hearing held Friday to determine whether his 2023 salary would be the Braves’ offer of $13.5 million or his request of $15 million, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Saturday night. The club has not confirmed the news.
Even with the ruling going in the club’s favor, the Braves’ Opening Day payroll is expected to be above the first threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax.
Fried, 29, has experienced an arbitration hearing each of the past two years. He won his 2022 case, when an arbitrator awarded him his $6.85 million request instead of the Braves’ $6.6 million offer.
Fried finished second in balloting for the 2022 NL Cy Young Award. He was a key reason the Braves enjoyed their first 100-win season since 2003 and captured a fifth consecutive NL East crown. Fried ranked third in the NL in ERA (2.48), ERA+ (164) and fielding independent pitching (2.70).