Atlanta Braves’ Morning Chop: Catching? Canada? CBA?
Canada in talks with Braves’ Freeman for WBC
Baseball Canada to is hoping to have two-time All-Star Freddie Freeman wear the red and white during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports reports two sides remain in talks to put the Atlanta Braves first baseman on the team.
Sources: @baseballcanada remains in talks with @FreddieFreeman5 to play in @WBCBaseball; Freddie's parents were born in Canada. @MLB @Braves
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 29, 2016
Freeman was born in California but both his parents were born in Canada. The 27-year-old said last year he’d like to honour his mother by playing for Canada in the tournament while visiting Toronto with the Braves.
Freeman’s mother, Rosemary, died of melanoma in 2000 when he was 10 years old.
“That’s always been a dream of mine,” he said of playing for Canada. “I want to represent Canada so I can represent my mother.”
“Canada has some good first basemen in Votto and Morneau, so I might have to just wait my turn, but hopefully I’ll get to do it one day,” he told the Associated Press.
Freeman posted .302 average with 34 home runs and 91 RBI last season.
Canada opens the World Baseball Classic on March 9, 2017 against the Dominican Republic in Miami.
[ Ed. Note: maybe Freddie can get this Canadian thing done so that we don’t have to someday worry about the Blue Jays taking him away, eh?
As for the WBC – he’ll be in Florida already, so it’s not a terrible ‘commute’. The White Sox (Morneau – who isn’t that good anymore) and the Reds (Votto) winter in Arizona, so it actually is much more convenient for the Canadian team to borrow Freddie, Chelsea, Charlie, and Nala for a few games.
No word on whether this will happen… but I’m betting it does. ]