Athletics: One of the most “aggressive” teams in pursuit of the former Atlanta Braves pitcher

Before the New York Yankees signed left-handed pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract, the Athletics were reportedly among the most aggressive teams in pursuing him.

It’s unclear whether the A’s ever made an official offer to Max Fried and, if so, what the terms of the contract were, but we can speculate that the offer was made when the A’s were “one of the most aggressive teams” they had were pursued by the dominant left.

This news comes just five days after the A’s spent an unusual amount of money signing right-hander Luis Severino to the largest contract in franchise history: a three-year, $67 million deal.

So the question must be asked: If the A’s are reportedly ready to sign one of the best pitchers on the market, what is their next move?

The A’s are just starting to pitch as some of the bigger names are off the market. Who could they turn to next? Sean Manaea was rumored to be an A’s target before they traded for Severino, and with Manaea still unsigned, they were able to continue their pursuit. Corbin Burnes and Jack Flaherty certainly seemed like “unrealistic” targets before the Fried news. The Athletics could pivot and make a splash by landing another top right-handed pitcher.

Nick Pivetta and Trevor Williams are interesting right-handed pitchers who performed well in 2024 before their injuries. The A’s may be able to sign one of them to a short-term contract, like Severino’s, and have a solid one-two punch at the top of their rotation.

The A’s want to increase their payroll to around $100 million, and after the Severino deal and proposed arbitration agreements, the payroll will be around $78.44 million. If the A’s are serious about getting their payroll to the $100 million mark, they can offer a whole lot of money to free agents. You will also have an incentive to reach this magic number.

While pitching is the A’s biggest need, they have some holes in the lineup and on the field. At some point they’ll need to make some improvements there too, and they have plenty of options in free agency.