DALLAS – As the top left-handed starting pitcher on the free-agent market, Max Fried is a perfect fit for the Red Sox.

Unfortunately, landing the lefty is akin to winning the division, something Boston hasn’t done since 2018.

According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, Fried will make his free agency decision by Thursday, with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays considered the most likely landing spots. Each of the three AL East rivals is eager to make a big signing after losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes to the Mets on Sunday.

While Rosenthal reported that the Rangers are still “in the mix” for Fried, he described the situation as “an AL East tug of war.” The Rangers are also trying to reunite with Nathan Eovaldi, who opted out of his contract last month.

Corbin Burnes, the top righty on the market, is in the same three AL East teams’ sights, but also has strong interest from other clubs.

The Red Sox haven’t had a left-handed ace in their rotation since Chris Sale’s early seasons. Fried, who turns 31 next month, owns a career 3.07 ERA over eight big-league seasons (168 games/151 starts) with the Braves. He’s won three pitching Gold Glove Awards and finished in the top-five for NL Cy Young twice. In 2024 he pitched to a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts (174.1 innings), including a pair of complete games, and was an All-Star for the second time in three years. He also brings high-stakes experience to the table, having pitched in seven postseason runs with Atlanta, including their 2021 World Series championship.

In his Winter Meetings availability on Monday, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow discussed the front office’s plan to be more “decisive” and “aggressive” this offseason.

After losing out on Soto, Fried will be a big test of how serious the Sox truly are.