The Chicago Cubs season did not meet expectations in 2024. Manager Craig Counsell was very frank about the gap between the Cubs and the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs are not shy of spending in free agency. However, when it comes to Max Fried, FanSided's Christopher Kline suggests the Cubs may not have a chance because of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"Fried has tried and failed to hammer out a workable deal with the Atlanta Braves over the years, so the expectation is that he will leave as a free agent," wrote Kline. "The Los Angeles Dodgers are his hometown team and there's a blatant need for pitching, so Chicago might not even get a fair crack at Fried."
Fried is projected to sign a six-year, $136 million deal in free agency by Spotrac. Fried headlines of many great pitchers in this free agent class. He should be a cheaper option than Corbin Burnes, but the Cubs will have a hard time trying to pull him away from his hometown team.
"That said, Fried is a former Dansby Swanson teammate and he comes from the same high school as Pete Crow-Armstrong," wrote Kline. "There are connections on the North Side."
The Dodgers' biggest need is pitching. It is the only slight flaw in their team. Meanwhile, the Cubs have other priorities in free agency as well. The Dodgers should be able to compete financially, and the prospect of playing on a team with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman may be too much to pass up.
The Cubs signed Shōta Imanaga last winter, and the signed turned out to be a great success. They need to find another arm to add to the rotation with him and Justin Steele.
