A weekend report by Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman indicated that the Yankees are expected to make a run at former MVP Freddie Freeman once the lockout ends, continuing a narrative that New York will look to upgrade at first base this offseason.
Tiki and Tierney are both excited about the potential of Freeman coming to New York to replace Luke Voit, the league’s home run leader in 2020 who has since run into all kinds of injuries.
“I would love it short-term,” Tierney said. “I would have to see the length of the deal…if it was a six or seven-year deal, the length would bother me. Freeman is a player. He’s exactly what they need. He’s an elite defending first baseman, he’s a high-character guy.”
If the Yanks were able to sign Freeman, it likely wouldn’t be for just the short term. The five-time All-Star is reportedly seeking a six-year deal after batting .300 with an .896 OPS this past season, which resulted in a World Series title. But Freeman has been the epitome of consistency over his career, playing in at least 158 games in four of the last five years (he played a full 60 in the shortened 2020 campaign), and hitting at least .295 in all of those seasons.
Freeman would also give the Yankees another lefty power bat to help balance their righty-heavy lineup, something the team tried to address at the trade deadline last season with the acquisitions of Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo.
“That would be a move that would be exciting,” Tiki said. “He’s a natural leader…for the last five or so years, he’s been that guy for this Braves squad. I would be excited about Freddie Freeman.”
Still, Tierney would rather take Matt Olson, who the Yankees were reportedly interested in acquiring via trade earlier this offseason. Olson is 27, five years younger than Freeman, and won’t be a free agent until 2024. He earned his first All-Star selection this past season after batting .271 with 39 home runs, and played in 156 games after logging a full 60 in 2020.
“I think I’d be more excited about Matt Olson,” Tierney said. “He’s younger, and I think it would give them a lot more freedom to do stuff that they need to do. You’d give up prospects, unlike Freeman, which would be just money.”
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