The Tampa Bay Rays seldom are big spenders, especially for players outside the organization. So, yeah, it was pretty surprising to hear they went after Freddie Freeman.
While their current level of interest in the veteran first baseman is unknown, the Rays did make an offer to Freeman before the lockout began, according to Audacy MLB Insider Jon Heyman.
Freeman would be a great get for the Rays, a team very much in win-now mode. And while Rays ace Tyler Glasnow was thrilled to see Tampa making an offer to one of the top free agents, he also was practical about the likelihood of it making an offer so good that Freeman would join the Rays.
"I saw that, crazy," Glasnow said during an appearance on the "Chris Rose Rotation" podcast. "I don’t know if he is going to go there. If I was a betting man I would probably say maybe not. It’s interesting, it’s pretty awesome to go out there and make a move like that for such a big-name guy, I’m just assuming it wasn’t as much as the other teams.
"Signing Wander to that huge deal and then trying to go get Freddie Freeman, that’s pretty awesome,” Glasnow continued. “I hope it continues after the lockout.”
Freeman should have a robust market once free agency reopens. It’s always possible he returns to the Atlanta Braves, but the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees also represent potential landing spots.
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