3 possible landing spots for Freddie Freeman
By David Hill
The fact that Freddie Freeman is still available in free agency is a bit of a shock. The Atlanta Braves were supposed to have locked up their star first baseman by this point, setting the stage for him to be a lifelong member of the franchise.
Instead, Freeman continues to languish in free agency, one of the dozens of players in limbo due to the lockout. He has also begun to get frustrated with the process, with his representatives reaching out to other teams to gauge their interest in bringing the former MVP on board.
Three landing spots for Freddie Freeman
Although he was unable to replicate that MVP campaign, Freeman still had a strong showing in 2021. He produced a .300/.393/.503 batting line in his 695 plate appearances, hitting 31 homers and 25 doubles. Even though he is already 32 years old, he still has plenty left in the tank.
Freddie Freeman can be a key contributor on virtually any team in the majors. Let’s take a look at three possible landing spots for him.
Atlanta Braves
Even though Freddie Freeman is frustrated with the Atlanta Braves, they still have to be considered the favorites for his services.
The Braves have quite a bit going for them in their quest to retain Freeman. They are the only franchise he has ever been a part of, having been drafted by Atlanta in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft. The Braves are coming off of a World Series championship and have an exciting young core. They should be contenders for years to come.
But it is telling that an agreement has not yet happened. The Braves reportedly offered him a five year deal worth $135 million, while Freeman reportedly sought a six year deal worth $200 million. That is quite the distance to bridge.
Meanwhile, the Braves are not sitting idly by waiting for their star first baseman to accept their offer. They have looked into Anthony Rizzo and gauged his demands. The Braves have also reportedly inquired about the cost to bring in Matt Olson. They are ready to move on if Freeman is.
Freddie Freeman is still expected to return to the Atlanta Braves and spend his career with the franchise. It just is not the given that it had once been.