5 teams besides the Braves that should sign Freddie Freeman

Boston Red Sox: Freddie Freeman fits the culture

The Red Sox need to replace Kyle Schwarber in the lineup and at first base, and what better way to do that than signing Freeman?

Freeman’s 15.4 percent strikeout rate was his lowest over a full season in his career, and he’d fit in well with a Boston lineup that loves to push the count. The Red Sox face a number of question marks heading into this offseason, namely with the lineup. Schwarber is a free agent, and J.D. Martinez could even opt out of his deal.

Signing a player like Freeman to excite the fanbase and prove they’re willing to spend to contend is the exact kind of decision Chaim Bloom should make to endear himself to Sox Nation.

San Diego Padres need to make a run at Freddie Freeman

This would all be dependent on the Padres ridding themselves of Eric Hosmer’s contract, but assuming they can do so, pairing Freeman with the likes of Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis, Jr. would be A.J. Preller’s greatest feat yet.

The Padres struggled with a culture crisis, which is in part why they brought in a veteran manager like Bob Melvin. But that alone won’t solve everything. This is the same team that was caught on camera bickering in the dugout, and breaking up a near-fight between Machado and Tatis.

Freeman is a leader in the clubhouse, and he can back it up with his play on the field. He now has a World Series to garner respect in any city he heads to. Unlike the Padres free agent deal for Hosmer, San Diego wouldn’t come to regret Freeman’s, as he’s shown no signs of regression thus far, now a few years into his 30’s.