Carlos Correa
A bomb was dropped on Braves Country late last night, as it was reported that the Braves are one of several teams interested in All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa. I still think it’s very unlikely that Correa ends up in a Braves uniform, but I’m not totally shocked by this news. Since Alex Anthopoulos took over, the Braves have been linked to several superstars like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Ultimately, they weren’t willing to go as far as the Phillies and Padres. However, this year could be different, given Liberty Media just raked in cash from a full season with fans and a World Series run. Correa would have this team competing for championships for the next decade, and I’m honestly perplexed by some fans that are so against this. He’s one of the best players in the game and performs his best when the lights are the brightest in October. I’m sure if he ended up signing with the Braves, those fans would quickly realize just how wrong they were.
Dansby Swanson
Part of the reason I imagine people are hesitant to bring in Correa is because of what it might mean for Dansby Swanson, but let’s be honest. I’ve been one of the biggest Dansby Swanson supporters of the last several years, but the upgrade to Correa is undeniable. One posted 7.2 WAR last season, the other 1.9. I’ll let you guess which is which. Plus, Swanson’s future in Atlanta isn’t even guaranteed. He’s a free agent after the 2022 season, and the Braves might not want to hand him the near $100 million contract he will likely demand.
Freddie Freeman
However, the biggest reason I imagine people are hesitant to bring in Correa is that it likely means Freeman will also be playing elsewhere. That would be a tough pill for Braves fans to swallow, and I’m truly not sure what I would rather have — Correa and another first baseman or Freeman and Swanson. I will say, though, there is this thought in the back of my mind that maybe Liberty Media realized just how much money they can make off of World Series runs and goes all in, signing both Freeman and Correa. Unfortunately, that’s probably just a pipe dream. But for those of you worried the Braves might lose Freeman, we did get some good reports from MLB Insider Jon Heyman. He said the Yankees, who are very interested in Freeman, don’t even believe he will leave the Braves, reminding them of Derek Jeter.
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
The Lockout
Last night, Major League Baseball officially entered their first lockout since 1995. Remember what happened that year? Yeah, the Braves won the World Series. Still, this is terrible for baseball, and it doesn’t seem like anything will be resolved anytime soon. The owners are showing their true greedy colors. They feel like they have all the leverage and are willing to wait on into the scheduled season if they have to before they budge. Strap in, folks; it’s going to be a painful next few months for baseball fans, which is really a shame.
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Photo: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
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