Yankees’ Freddie Freeman pursuit could hit snag with Rays’ interest

It seems you may add one other workforce to the Freddie Freeman sweepstakes — and it’s a shocking one.

In line with MLB Community’s Jon Heyman, the Rays made Freeman a proposal previous to the league-imposed lockout that started Dec. 2.

The notoriously low-payroll Rays would appear to be an unlikely vacation spot for Freeman, one of many high free brokers remaining in the marketplace, and their curiosity within the 32-year-old might complicate issues for the Yankees.

Not solely would the Yankees prefer to keep away from seeing Freeman of their division, Tampa Bay would virtually definitely solely be capable to land Freeman if he’s unable to get a five- or six-year deal elsewhere — which is how the Yankees might select to swoop in on the lefty swinger.

Lengthy believed to be headed again to Atlanta, Freeman unexpectedly was nonetheless in the marketplace greater than a month into free company, which gave groups — just like the Yankees and Dodgers — a gap.

Freeman is believed to be looking for a contract within the neighborhood of six years and $180 million.

Freddie Freeman reportedly needs to remain in Atlanta, however a number of groups have curiosity within the southpaw slugger.

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And he’s not the one first baseman who could also be on the transfer as soon as the MLB lockout ends and transactions are as soon as once more allowed.

Anthony Rizzo can be a free agent and, after a stable displaying in The Bronx after a midseason commerce from the Cubs, is perhaps up for a reunion. He would value much less and wish fewer years than Freeman, who led the Braves to a World Collection title in October.

Then there’s Oakland’s Matt Olson, who is predicted to be moved sooner moderately than later by the all the time cost-cutting A’s.

The Yankees are additionally severely focused on Olson, who, like Rizzo and Freeman, would give them one other left-handed bat.

At the moment, Luke Voit stays the one first baseman on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. He’s assured he’s wholesome after a season by which he was plagued with left knee points. Voit can be due about $5.4 million in arbitration.

With the lockout now in its fourth month and MLB and the MLB Gamers Affiliation caught in a stalemate, the work stoppage doesn’t appear to be near an finish.

And what the game’s monetary scenario seems like on the opposite facet will play a job in how the first-base market develops, for the reason that essential sticking level between the edges within the battle over a brand new collective bargaining settlement is the aggressive stability tax.