When the Major League Baseball Players Association and the owners finally come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, the floodgates will open with the remainder of the free agency period. Among the players who will still be available is longtime Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has been linked with teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers do not have an urgent need at first base, as Max Muncy is currently slated to be manager Dave Roberts’ go-to starter at the position for the 2022 season. But as seen in years past, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman sure would be much open to adding another spark to the team's already high-octane lineup.
Muncy would much welcome the addition of Freeman to the Dodgers. As he noted to David Vassegh on AM570’s Dodgers Talk show, he is open to moving over to second base in order to accommodate for Freeman should Friedman haul him in after the lockout.
“I think it’s awesome, imagine how dangerous we’d be if we get him in that lineup,” Muncy said. “It makes me really excited. Yeah, maybe it’s not as much first base but that’s ok because I think I’ve said several times I enjoy playing second base more.”
Muncy has proved to be a versatile infielder for the Dodgers, which includes 39 appearances out at the second base position in the 2021 campaign. Thus, such a move for the two-time All-Star would not be a drastic change at this stage in his career.
While the MLBPA and owners are still not close to agreeing on a new CBA, one of the more notable on-field changes that is much expected to come in the 2022 season is the implementation of a universal designated hitter. The National League had a taste of this in the shortened 2020 season, which saw both Muncy (two games) and Freeman (two games) earn playing time as a DH.
Muncy sees that if the DH ends up coming to the NL, the Dodgers could then be a bit more flexible with their lineup in the case that they sign Freeman.
“And if we get the DH, obviously, that’s gonna be a rotating position — we’re not gonna have one set DH because we can utilize it to get people off their feet and get them rest days without getting them out of the lineup,” Muncy said.
Freeman is well expected to have multiple suitors interested in signing him once the lockout comes to an end.
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