Atlanta Braves Might Have to Keep Freeman Regardless

Oct 9, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; A general view of Busch Stadium in game one of the NLDS between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

No Landing Spot?

There’s 29 other major league 1st base jobs out there.  You’d think there would be a team that would love to have the hugger, but you might be surprised:

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NL EAST

As evidenced by reports of the asking price for sending Simmons to the Mets, Atlanta does not want any top-end talent to end up beating us 18 or 19 times a year, so an intra-divisional trade is highly unlikely.  Nonetheless…

• Washington.  Has Ryan Zimmerman who needs to stay on 1st.
• Miami.  Have need, but are not going commit to another $100m+ contract and not going to pay Atlanta’s price (which could be something like Hechavarria and Ozuna)
• Philadelphia.  Ryan Howard… still ($35m due, though will be bought out after this next campaign).
• Mets.  Have Lucas Duda; would not part with any of their young stars.

NL CENTRAL

• CARDINALS.  One of the most interesting possibilities, actually.  If they can’t re-sign Jason Heyward, then this actually could get very interesting.  You could make an argument that they might go after Freddie anyway, since Matt Holliday and Adam Wainwright could be off the books in the next couple of years.
• Pittsburgh.  Have a need.  Have prospects.  Have no cash.
• Cincinnati.  Joey Votto.
• Cubs.  Anthony Rizzo.
• Milwaukee. Have Adam Lind, plus Ryan Braun‘s contract.

NL WEST

• Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez, plus a desire to get the payroll under $300 million
• Giants.  Need a place for Buster Posey and Brandon Belt to share time, though they could certainly use the offense.
• Rockies.  Too cheap, both in $$ and in supplying prospects for a trade.
• Padres.  I have no idea what the Padres are doing.  Yonder Alonso, I guess, though they have cleared a bunch of payroll space.
• Diamondbacks.  Paul Goldschmidt.

Next: How About the Junior Circuit?