Atlanta Braves slugger Freddie Freeman is, indeed, a free man.
He can sign with any team this offseason, and will surely explore the market to some degree.
Seeing him ending up in a Braves uniform is the most likely outcome, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible he ends up somewhere else.
After all, he is a former MVP with a career .892 OPS and a .300/.393/.503 line in 2021, with a .896 OPS and 31 homers.
The 32-year-old is looking for a nice payday, and may get close to $30 million per season for six or seven years.
Which teams are prepared to make him a huge offer?
3. New York Yankees
The New York Yankees offense wasn’t worthy of the nickname “Bombers” in 2021.
They were 18th in MLB in runs scored with 4.4 per game, and 13th in OPS with .729.
Depending on which stat or metric you use, the unit was average or below-average.
That needs to change if the Yankees want to have a chance at winning their first World Series since 2009.
First base was a problematic position for New York virtually all year long.
Luke Voit opened the year on the injured list and the team had to use Jay Bruce, who struggled mightily.
They even had to slide DJ LeMahieu, a natural second baseman, to play some games there until Voit was healthy.
Voit returned, got injured again, and could never gain the consistency that made him the home run leader in the 2020 campaign.
The team went shopping and added Anthony Rizzo at the deadline, but he was only slightly above-average and not really a difference-maker.
Having Freeman in the lineup would make the Yankees virtually unstoppable.
Freddie Freeman’s last home run before he’s a Yankee! pic.twitter.com/5DKifS27yJ
— Joe (@Yankeelibrarian) November 3, 2021
The team could be prepared to spend more after resetting their luxury tax.
2. San Diego Padres
If it weren’t for Eric Hosmer’s bloated contract that nobody wants, the San Diego Padres would probably be frontrunners, alongside the Braves, to get Freeman.
San Diego’s offense wasn’t all that impressive besides Fernando Tatis Jr.
Imagine having Freeman instead of the middling Hosmer, and San Diego could be a team to beat in the National League West.
The problem is that they have Hosmer signed long-term and they have tried to trade him in the past, even attaching a prospect to him, with no luck.
There is always the chance the Padres decide to add Freeman even if they can’t offload Hosmer, but it seems remote.
The offense with Freeman would be very good looking.
Freddie Freeman is the World Series champion 1B and clubhouse leader that the Padres have been looking for.
— Kevin (@CornfedFriar) November 3, 2021
He would be a nice lefty bat to complement the lineup, too.
1. Atlanta Braves
While many contenders are surely interested, there is a 99 percent chance Freeman ends up back in the Braves when all is said and done.
It’s just too good of a marriage to end over money.
And the Braves, known for getting players on bargain deals (Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies are prime examples), could be prepared to give Freeman an incredible offer to fend off other clubs.
In fact, let’s put it this way: if the Braves fail to sign Freeman to a mammoth contract this winter and he goes elsewhere, it would be a major disappointment and a severe blunder by the franchise.
Freeman has helped Atlanta get numerous division titles, is a former MVP, and is now a World Series champion.
The widely expected outcome is that he commits his future to the Braves and retires there in a few years.
NEXT: 3 Free Agents Twins Should Sign This Offseason
