5 big things to watch for when the MLB lockout ends
While the MLB lockout drags on and all of us look at the calendar, wondering what will happen with spring training and the 2022 regular season, there are also plenty of big decisions by MLB teams that have been put on hold because of the lockout.
With Major League free agent signings and trades on hold because of the MLB lockout, it feels like we are in the middle of a television series that leaves us with a cliffhanger and we have to wait until next season to find out who really shot J.R. (or Mr. Burns) or if Jon Snow was really dead. There were so many rumors and plot twists about which player might be signing with which team before the lockout that just … stopped.
What we’re watching after the MLB lockout: Will Freddie Freeman continue to be with the Atlanta Braves?
Maybe the biggest cliffhanger of all comes from the World Champion Atlanta Braves and the face of the franchise, Freddie Freeman. Does Freeman really want a six-year deal? Will the Braves find a way to reach a deal with Freeman, or will the 32-year-old first baseman be snatched up by the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers?
Freeman’s future home is one of the biggest questions of the offseason and could be a game-changer for not only the Braves, but other franchises as well.
Another thing we’re watching after the MLB lockout ends: Where will Carlos Correa go and what happens to the Houston Astros?
Much like Freddie Freeman and his next destination, all eyes will be on the decision made by Carlos Correa on where he will continue his career. From the New York Yankees to the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs, Correa has been linked to big markets all offseason as he looks to cash in on his time with the Houston Astros where he has excelled at the plate and in the field.
How much is Correa wanting to cash in? He has hired Scott Boras to be his agent, and fellow shortstop Corey Seager inking a 10-year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers has to be a motivator for Correa to land a contract in that price range. After all, Correa reportedly turned down a 10-year, $275 million deal from the Detroit Tigers before the lockout commenced, so the amount of money is certainly a motivator.
It’s been said that Houston isn’t willing to spend that much for that long to keep Correa, so the Astros will likely be looking to replace Correa at shortstop. Could that replacement be Trevor Story, a Texas native who has seen his time with the Colorado Rockies come to an end? It’s a less expensive possibility and could be Houston’s move once Correa makes his decision or the Astros know for certain they are out of the race to retain him.
Another thing we’re watching after the MLB lockout ends: Where will Seiya Suzuki sign?
After being officially posted by the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball, Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki has become one of the most intriguing and desired free agents on the market.
The 27-year-old outfielder has won five NPB Gold Gloves and has hit 121 home runs over the past four seasons while posting a .319/.435/.592 slash line. Could he be the best Japanese player available to MLB teams since Shohei Ohtani? Many say the answer is yes.
Suzuki has been linked to the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs, among other teams. Discussions with Suzuki had begun when the MLB lockout went into effect, putting a pause on those talks. Once the lockout is over, Suzuki will have 20 days remaining out of a 30-day window to sign a contract with a team.
It has been reported that Suzuki will travel to the United States to meet face to face with teams that are interested in his services, so expect plenty of video clips and rumors to be flying once the MLB lockout comes to an end.
Another thing we’re watching after the MLB lockout ends: What splashes will the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers make?
There are certain things we can count on in life: Death, taxes, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees spending money to build their roster for a potential run at the World Series.
The Dodgers made some moves before the lockout, including signing the versatile Chris Taylor to a four-year deal worth $60 million and signing Cody Bellinger to a one-year, $17 million contract as the Dodgers hope 2021 postseason Bellinger is the one they will get next season as opposed to 2021 regular-season Bellinger.
However, there are still questions left for the Dodgers to answer. Will they be able to (or will they want to) sign Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen? Are they really in the market for Carlos Correa or is Trea Turner the answer at shortstop? Will they be able to lure Freddie Freeman away from the Braves? How will they replace Max Scherzer in the rotation?
On the other side of the country, the Yankees did very little before the MLB lockout commenced. What will New York do about the shortstop position, spending money on Carlos Correa or waiting for one of their top prospects to take over the reigns? Will they try to upgrade at first base? If they spend money on free agents this offseason, what does that do for a potential Aaron Judge extension with the outfielder scheduled to be a free agent after the 2022 season?
The new CBA will likely determine exactly how aggressive the Yankees and Dodgers are after the MLB lockout. However, both are franchises that expect to compete for the World Series every year, so look for them to be active once the MLB lockout ends.
Another thing we’re watching after the MLB lockout ends: Will the Oakland A’s dismantle their roster and start a rebuild?
There has been plenty of talk about what might happen with the Oakland A’s after the MLB lockout is over, with many expecting the A’s to try to trade off players such as Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea and others as a rebuild begins in Oakland.
Signs point toward a new era dawning in Oakland, with Bob Melvin leaving in a surprise move to take over the San Diego Padres and the A’s turning down a $4 million option on reliever Jake Diekman, who has a 3.25 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 1,300 WHIP, and 128 ERA+ in 116 games over the last three seasons in Oakland.
“We don’t have an exact direction yet,” Oakland general manager David Forst said during the MLB general manager meetings in December. But you look at our history, and we have three- or four-year runs and recognize where we are makes it necessary to step back.”
If the A’s are going to step back this offseason, that means other teams who may not win the Freddie Freeman or Carlos Correa sweepstakes could swoop in to make a deal with Oakland to get what they want.
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In what is expected to be an interesting American League West race this season with the Texas Rangers spending a massive amount of money in free agency before the MLB lockout and the Seattle Mariners making moves to strengthen their roster as well, in addition to the Houston Astros as the defending AL champions, Oakland may choose to stockpile for the future once trades can once again take place after the MLB lockout.