Marc Tramuta, a Fredonia High School graduate, has been promoted to director of amateur scouting by the Toronto Blue Jays. Tramuta, a 2022 Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee, joined the Blue Jays in 2023 as a special assistant for player personnel. Prior to his time with Toronto, he spent 11 years with the New York Mets in various roles, including senior adviser of domestic and international scouting, director of amateur scouting, and assistant scouting director.

Before his stint with the Mets, Tramuta worked as an area scout for the Baltimore Orioles and held several positions within the Blue Jays organization, such as area scout, national scouting supervisor, and professional scout.

Throughout his career, Tramuta has received numerous accolades, including the Al LaMacchia Award as the Blue Jays’ Scout of the Year in 2007 and the Mid-Atlantic Scouts Association’s Crosschecker of the Year award in 2014.

Max Fried, the Atlanta Braves’ fan favorite All-Star, is now an unrestricted free agent, and the possibility of him leaving the Braves for a new team is growing. Fried is expected to sign a contract worth over $100 million, with projections ranging from $150 million to $175 million. He has been a key figure in the Braves’ pitching staff, but with the team’s focus shifting toward other free-agent targets, the Blue Jays have emerged as strong contenders for his services.

According to a recent list from Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer, Fried is among the Blue Jays’ top targets this offseason, with Rymer placing them at the top of his list above teams like the Braves and the New York Mets. Rymer also highlighted the Blue Jays’ continued investment in run prevention and their potential to form one of the best rotations in the American League with Fried joining an already strong pitching staff.

The Blue Jays have been making waves in the free agent market and are rumored to be in the race for multiple high-profile names, including Juan Soto. If they miss out on Soto, adding Fried would still make a major impact, strengthening the team’s rotation and helping them compete for an American League East title.

With their financial flexibility and an eye on bolstering their roster, the Blue Jays could be poised to make a big splash this offseason. Whether Fried will ultimately join Toronto remains to be seen, but his name is certainly one to watch in the coming weeks.