Chicago Cubs Rumors: Max Fried labeled as free-agent fit as offseason plan shifts

With Cody Bellinger returning to the Chicago Cubs after exercising his $27.5MM player option for the 2025 season, it would seem that the Cubs' offseason strategy will need to shift.

Bellinger's return to a roster that already has a starter at every position besides catcher may limit Jed Hoyer's ability to add an impact bat. Regardless of what the outcome was with Bellinger, it had seemed that the Cubs were already moving away from the idea that an addition of an impact bat would be their major move this offseason.

The speculation since the end of the season has seen that the Cubs are planning on adding an established starting pitcher to the top of their rotation. Considering there aren't many paths toward the Cubs adding a bat to their starting lineup, the thinking may be that the front office is wanting to double down on their run-prevention fascination.

The starting pitchers at the top of this offseason's free agent class are Corbin Burnes and Max Fried. With Burnes looking for a deal that will potentially rival the 9-year, $324MM deal Gerrit Cole signed with the New York Yankees in 2020, Fried may be the more likely target for the Cubs.

Max Fried could be the signature move of the Cubs' offseason.

Along those lines, in ranking the top free agents this offseason, Mark Feinsand of MLB's official website lists the Cubs as a fit for Fried.

Fried had an excellent 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Braves. In 29 starts this past season, Fried posted a 3.25 ERA and 3.33 FIP. While there has been some concern over how Burnes' dominance will age, there's been a strong belief that Fried, given his ability to mix pitches, would be the better long-term investment.

On paper, there is no question that the addition of Fried would make the Cubs a better team at the start of 2025 than they were at the end of 2024. The fear would be, if Fried is the main addition this offseason, what will the Cubs have done to avoid their offense breaking for consecutive months as it did in 2023 and 2024.