Braves two-time All-Star predicted to sign $150+ million deal with Blue Jays | Sporting News

The Toronto Blue Jays need to make a splash this winter, and everyone in the organization knows it. 

Jobs are at stake, namely those of general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider. Franchise players could be on the way out of town soon, namely Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. It’s a pivotal winter for the Jays to make big improvements to the roster, and quickly.

Toronto is in on outfielder Juan Soto, but their odds don’t seem great to land the $600-plus million superstar, who is being pursued by both New York teams and the Boston Red Sox. If they are forced to pivot, they could easily spend some of that money on a premier starting pitcher.

Though the Blue Jays already have four solid big-league starters in Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, and Bowden Francis, adding an ace to the mix would go a long way toward helping them back to October.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report believes the Jays can land that case. He recently predicted that Max Fried, who is expected to land a deal north of $150 million this winter, would sign in Toronto sometime this winter.

“The Blue Jays look like a team poised to make a splash after they made a serious push to sign Shohei Ohtani last winter, and there is a looming sense of urgency to convince Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to stick around beyond the 2025 season,” Reuter said.

“Reeling in Max Fried would qualify as a splash, and it would give them one of the deepest rotations in baseball.” 

Fried, 31, has been one of the most reliable–and durable–pitchers in the league since he broke in as a full-time starter in 2019. He owns a 73-36 career record with a 3.07 ERA, and has two All-Star appearances and three Gold Gloves on his resume.

Adding a pitcher of Fried’s caliber would make all those in the rotation better around him, and make Toronto one of the American League’s most feared pitching staffs. There’s no guarantee the Jays will get back to October, but landing Fried would certainly increase their odds.

More MLB: Blue Jays predicted to swipe $105 million All-Star from AL East rival Orioles