3 MLB Players Who Can't Wait for the Lockout to End
By Reed Wallach
With the MLB lockout looming over everyone's heads, many free agents looked to secure deals quickly ahead of a labor stoppage with the future being uncertain.
Teams dolled out about $2.1 billion in the first several days of free agency, but several superstars stood their ground and will head into the lockout without a new club.
Here are three stars that will likely sign quickly out of the lockout whenever that ends.
Carlos Correa, Shortstop
We handicapped which team Correa will likely go to earlier in the week, but he will be a free agent for the foreseeable future during the labor stoppage.
However, the shortstop has to be pumped about the shortstop market after Corey Seager signed for a 10-year, $325 million deal earlier this week, setting the market for the position.
Correa could return to the Houston Astros, but he has been linked to the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves recently. However, as Braulio Perez notes on FanSided, the Mariners can be a dark horse team for the SS after being linked to other high profile free agents like Kris Bryant and Trevor Story.
Freddie Freeman, First Basemen
Coming off a World Series season, the year after an NL MVP campaign, Freddie Freeman is looking to get paid.
Word is Freeman had been seeking about $180M for 6 years. Seems reasonable to me. If that’s it, Braves should just pay him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 30, 2021
While it's expected that Freeman will end up back in Atlanta, there are some hurdles for the two sides to get over whenever the lockout is over.
Yankees are among teams in the bidding for Braves superstar Freddie Freeman. But hard to find anyone who thinks he’ll leave Atlanta, including Yanks. They view it as another situation akin to Jeter as player with Yankees. It seems Braves must bridge 5/6 year difference with FF.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 2, 2021
As Jon Heyman notes, the Yankees are in the mix for the former MVP, but the expectation is that he will return to the Braves for a big contract.
Kris Bryant, Third Basemen
Bryant can play all over and helped propel the Giants to the best record in baseball last season after being traded from the Cubs at the trade deadline.
It makes sense for the former MVP to draw a lot of interest given his ability to play multiple positions and the list is long.
Mets, Angels and Padres are among many teams to have shown interest in star free agent Kris Bryant, whose marketing is now percolating, Mariners, Phillies, Rockies, Astros among others who have checked in.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 2, 2021
Of course, during the lockout no deals can be agreed too, which Bryant is reportedly cool with, but he's going to be a busy man once teams are able to resume free agency, meaning his market is probably only going to grow in the dead period.
Kris Bryant market is really starting to move. But he is not too likely to have a deal tonight. Like Correa, he is fine waiting through the work stoppage.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 2, 2021