We know it: the chances of seeing Freddie Freeman not staying with the Atlanta Braves are growing. The player and the team are not on the same wavelength and Freeman wants to be paid, over six years, at his fair value.
Will it be in Atlanta? I have a feeling the Dodgers can convince him to come home to California.
Note that according to many informants, the Yankees and Blue Jays are also in the mix.
I am always surprised to see Toronto in this derby. After all, I understand that adding Freeman’s left-handed stick (and his leadership) would be wonderful, but the Jays already have a first baseman. Why put a spoke in the wheels of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and block the position of DH for several years by alternating these guys?
It’s also why I’m surprised, a bit, to see the Mets in the derby.
Because yes, according to what has started to circulate, the New York Mets have inquired about the price to pay to put him under contract before the work stoppage.
The Mets reportedly checked in on Freddie Freeman prior to the lockout https://t.co/VMly5WTeRB pic.twitter.com/rOnnEXlOJg
—SNY (@SNYtv) February 24, 2022
Obviously, just getting information is not expensive and it should be done. If the Mets can steal a big player from a division rival, it kills two birds with one stone.
But Pete Alonso is there. He’s more of a DH type than Vladdy, sure, but the problem is that such a signing would block a rotation to the hitter-of-choice position for Buck Showalter.
The Mets checked in on Freddie Freeman prior to the lockout. Growing belief is that Freeman isn’t going back to ATL. If Freeman goes to NYM, Pete Alonso would be DH@Buster_ESPN we it
— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) February 25, 2022
The Mets could continue to add an outfielder (as the club’s new manager wants), but adding an impact infielder would be difficult with Robinson Cano, Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Escobar in place.
You will tell me that Freeman is an impact infielder – and he is. That said, what I’m saying is that the Mets couldn’t add infield versatility.
I’ve always found having two players who can only play first base on an MLB team is a dangerous game. The lack of versatility hurts and blocking the DH position for a rotation between only two guys is not in the era of time.
That said, if the Mets can get their hands on Freeman…that would be wow. Their payroll would be crazy, but it would be wow.
