After Freddie Freeman helped lead the Atlanta Braves to their first World Series win since 1995, the expectation was he would quickly re-sign with the organization that selected him in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft.
However, negotiations between Freeman and the Braves reportedly never gained much traction. Any dialogue then came to a halt in December when the MLB lockout began. Throughout that process, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees were mentioned as potential suitors.
The notion that the Dodgers would pursue Freeman heightened once Corey Seager signed a 10-year, $325 million contract with the Texas Rangers prior to MLB business coming to a halt.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are expected to make a run at signing Freeman once the lockout ends, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
The Yankees are expected to take a run at Freddie Freeman, who they love. Though 1B isn’t their real need, they’d love to fit one of the game’s best lefty hitters into their lineup. With the Braves not quickly wrapping up their star, all are options are on the table for Freeman.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 5, 2022
The Yankees were among the teams that seemingly went into wait-and-see mode with respect to a new collective bargaining agreement eventually needing to be in place. They were linked to Seager and other notable free agents despite an apparent preference to take a long view.
Signing Freeman would give the Yankees a replacement for free agent Anthony Rizzo, though the financial implications could be a hindrance. Freeman reportedly is seeking a six-year contract.
Dodgers players support signing Freeman
Once Seager officially joined the Rangers, it was reported multiple Dodgers players voiced their support of signing Freeman.
Adding the 32-year-old to the lineup would help fill a void by being a left-handed hitter like Seager, but also require some flexibility on the part of Max Muncy.
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