NEWSLETTER
Sincerely: I am sharing this only because it’s kinda funny to think about, not because I think Eric Hosmer has special insights into what the Chicago Cubs will ACTUALLY do this offseason.
In relation to a recent report that the Cubs are looking to add a front-of-the-rotation-type arm, the former Cubs first baseman joked(?) about which pitcher his former teammate might want the Cubs to go after:
Although he didn’t say so explicitly, Hosmer was almost certainly referring to Swanson’s long-time Braves teammate, Max Fried (a later tweet seemed to imply that Fried is indeed to whom Hosmer referred).
Again, I don’t think Hosmer has any particularized knowledge on this front, PERHAPS beyond knowing how Swanson might feel about Max Fried. Like, maybe Swanson has mentioned to Hosmer how much he respect Fried, or how good he thinks Fried is, etc.
It’s worth pointing out that Fried has been name-checked by Patrick Mooney already this rumor cycle, so that wouldn’t be completely out of nowhere. Moreover, we know Swanson has the ear of the front office, so his opinion on these matters would carry at least a little bit of sway.
Regardless of any of this, it’s not like Fried wouldn’t be an attractive target on his own merits. The 30-year-old lefty has a career 3.10 ERA over parts of 8 seasons with the Braves, has strong peripherals throughout his career (including a huge groundball rate), has not seen an appreciable velocity dip, has been healthy five of the last six seasons, and has extensive postseason experience. He should be on the Cubs’ radar this offseason, just as he’ll assuredly be on a whole lot of other radars, too.
None of that is to say there aren’t some question marks there, though. For one, although Fried has typically been healthy, last year he missed half of the season in 2023 with a forearm strain, and this year dealt with another (much more brief) forearm issue. For another thing, he’s going to get a Qualifying Offer from the Braves, which means signing him will cost draft pick compensation (for the Cubs, who project to be over the luxury tax, that would mean the loss of their second highest pick AND fifth highest pick AND $1 million in IFA money). Lastly, his results are down a bit this year, including a dip in his strikeout rate and bump in his walk rate. He turns 31 in January, so I suppose there’s that factor, too.
