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First of all, I think the Braves would be out of their minds to Freddie Freeman this winter – or even for a few years.  This club will need some some semblance of a team heading into their new stadium in Cobb County, GA next year.

I mean what is the problem, having  a First Baseman in his prime with a Career Slash of .285/.366/.466 – with 22 HRs and 91 RBI per 162 Game Average? Nothing.

Then again, maybe the team just wants to go clean slate with a full rebuild.  I get that.  Kind of like the Houston Astros did recently.

Truth of the matter is, Freeman could command more on the open market than a 6 YR deal worth $118.5 MIL.  But at $20 MIL per year still looming, it may be a tall order for some clubs to come up with that 9 figure sum.

I have listed the following teams as potential trade partners.

Rule out NL EAST – would be a bad idea for Atlanta.

Yankees

What they have to offer:  1B Mark Teixeira, 1B Greg Bird and Eric Jagielo.  The Braves could deal back Freddie Freeman, Jace Peterson or Hector Olivera.

The Yankees would set the Tomahawk choppers with their 1st tandem of 2015 – where they clubbed 41 HRs.  They could also trade Tex at the Deadline for a nice haul of young players.

The Yankees would receive the 1st Baseman they need at Yankee Stadium.  I mean who knows if Bird is going to be able to pull off the job once Teixeira is gone.

Atlanta would also free up a ton of money for flexibility.  Jagielo could be their 3B of the future.  With Chase Headley on the books for 3 more years it makes sense for both sides.

Mariners

What they have to offer: James Paxton, Mark Trumbo and Minor League 1B Prospect D.J. Peterson.  The M’s may have to take a salary dump player from the Braves back too like Swisher or Michael Bourn.

This would be a 3 – 1 for one deal.  Trumbo would be one and done.  Peterson is the Mariners 3rd best prospect and close enough for the big leagues potentially by 2017.

Paxton throws in the upper 90’s and just needs to stay healthy.  Trumbo and Nick Swisher could trade off OF and 1B duty for the year.

Orioles

What they have to offer:

Dylan Bundy and Jonathan Schoop.

This would stir the pot immensely, but think there is fair value there.  Atlanta would get 4 years of Schoop – who is projecting to be an ALL – Star 2B, and Dylan Bundy still has enormous upside at just age.

Baltimore would get their replacement for Chris Davis.  It is likely Baltimore will trade for a guy like Adam Lind or sign Justin Morneau, but I like the idea anyway.

Astros:

Cameron Maybin and Freddie Freeman would go to Houston.

What they have to offer:

Jon Singleton, Chris Carter and Mark Appel.  Singleton is signed to a club friendly 5 YRs/$10 MIL  with Team Options that could make it just $25.5 MIL over 6 years – and has shown he could hit in the Minor Leagues.

Maybin would give the club depth in Houston in the OF.  Freeman of course would be the long term solution at 1B- and could hit between Springer and Correa.

The Braves could have HR happy Chris Carter for a few seasons, see how Singleton works out, and also have Appel to join the rotation.

With Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh and Lance McCullers JR. in the rotation, the ‘Stros’ don’t really need Appel anymore.  The former #1 pick could at least net them their 1st baseman.

Maybin is more of a salary dump than a great addition for Houston, although he may be a better option in LF than Jake Marisnick would be.  He could also replace Rasmus in the OF for 2017.

From the 1st overall pick in the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft, to barely clinging onto a slot in our top 100 prospects, it hasn’t been banner sailing for the former Stanford University hurler.  Mark Appel did  show promise at the end of 2014 – and for some of 2015, after mightily struggling to start his Minor League career. Might he be packaged for a player like Freeman? The club has enough Starting Pitching for years to come, and he can still deal in the mid – 90’s for his Fastball. Maybe the Braves would be a great destination for him.  Appel is still just 24.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

A Big thanks goes out to our chief writer Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s feature post.

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