Cubs free agent target: Max Fried

Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty ImagesStarting pitching was one of the strengths of the 2024 Cubs, particularly lefthanders Sh\u014dta Imanaga and Justin Steele.

So why not go after another left, free agent Max Fried, who’s spent the last eight years with the Atlanta Braves?

Fried has been pretty consistent over his career in Atlanta, though he has missed some time with injuries, including part of the 2024 season. In that sense, in some ways his career is similar to Steele’s, only a step up the ladder. Fried has two Gold Gloves, two top five Cy Young Award finishes, and is a two-time NL All-Star, in addition to pitching in seven postseasons. (You probably don’t want to look at…