HOUSTON — Freddie Freeman and Carlos Correa are each headed in direction of free company.
After the Braves defeated the Astros 7-Zero in Sport 6 of the World Collection on Tuesday night time to win their first championship since 1995, it’s arduous to think about Freeman enjoying anyplace however Atlanta.
It’s practically as tough to image Correa again in Houston, given his postgame feedback.
Requested if it was on his thoughts that his ninth-inning single may very well be his ultimate plate look with the Astros, Correa stated: “It was the one factor going by means of my thoughts, to be trustworthy. Loads of emotions, blended feelings. I spent seven years with this membership. Yeah, it was going by means of my thoughts for certain.”
Correa is the highest free agent out there this summer time and seems to be out of Houston’s worth vary, which can put him in the course of a bidding battle that would contain a handful of groups — together with the Yankees.
The 27-year-old shortstop stated he didn’t need to negotiate with Houston as soon as the common season started, and Correa stated the group revered his needs.
“Now that I’m a free agent, we’ll have a dialog and see how that goes,’’ Correa stated, although he repeatedly referred to his time with the Astros previously tense.
“To the [Houston] followers, I need to say thanks on your assist,’’ Correa stated. “My time right here was superb, the seven best years of my life. I obtained right here as a boy, was a person, grew on this metropolis, and the followers embraced me. So this has been my residence. That is my residence now.”
Freeman figures to have a distinct offseason after main the Braves to the title.
Requested about hitting a house run in his ultimate at-bat of the season, a seventh-inning solo blast, the primary baseman smiled and stated, “It means it’s gonna be a pleasant offseason. … I’m simply glad I used to be in a position to contribute.”
Concerning his impending free company, Freeman stated: “I’ve been within the group since 2007. I don’t know the rest. We’ll see what occurs. I’m gonna soak this one in.”
As he turns into a free agent for the primary time, Freeman closed out 2021 in fashion.
He capped the Braves’ inconceivable World Collection title run with an RBI double within the fifth inning Tuesday earlier than the homer within the seventh.
By the point he hit his fifth residence run of the postseason, the sizable contingent of Braves followers readily available had already principally taken over Minute Maid Park and had been chanting, “Freddie, Freddie.”
As Freeman obtained to 3rd base, he confronted the visiting dugout and let loose a scream, as a lot of his teammates danced on the sphere.
Freeman, 32, completed off one other very good season together with his first championship. He additionally contributed with three doubles within the postseason and may hit the open market as probably the most sought-after first baseman out there.
The Yankees would little question have an interest in the event that they obtained an opportunity to signal the lefty-swinger, however they’ll probably by no means get the possibility.
“I haven’t envisioned enjoying anyplace else as a result of I haven’t gotten to that time but,’’ Freeman stated final Friday. “I’ve placed on this uniform — since 2007 I obtained to placed on a Braves uniform with the Gulf Coast League staff. It’s all I’ve ever identified. However it’s a little bizarre that by subsequent Sunday, Monday, I may very well be a free agent, which could be very, very bizarre to me. It hasn’t hit me as a result of I’m attempting to place that off due to a bit bit extra essential issues at job proper now.”
Freeman made certain that job was accomplished Tuesday and no matter his price ticket was earlier than this postseason, it probably has gone up with a World Collection title on his résumé.
Freeman simply completed an eight-year contract value $135 million he obtained earlier than the 2014 season. His subsequent deal figures to pay him considerably extra, by way of common annual wage and the Dodgers — along with the Yankees — might come calling.
However because the clear face of the franchise, it’s more durable than ever to examine Freeman anyplace however Atlanta.