Phillies unlikely to pursue free-agent star 1B Freddie Freeman

Don’t expect Freddie Freeman to sign with the Phillies this offseason.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been linked to just about every several star free-agent this offseason, but one that has remained distant from them in headlines is first baseman Freddie Freeman.

The 32-year-old is coming off of a stellar Fall Classic showing — in which he slugged a pair of home runs and five RBI en route to helping the Braves capture their fourth World Series championship in franchise history.

Once the Braves acquired Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics earlier this week, it essentially shut the door on a reunion between Freeman and the only team he has known since they drafted him in the second round of the 2007 draft.

Ever since the transaction, rumors swirled even more as to where Freeman would play his 13th Major League season. According to The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, don’t count on that being in Philadelphia.

“If Freddie was too expensive for the Atlanta Braves, he’s too expensive for a team that needs way more other stuff,” Stark said early Tuesday evening on 97.5 The Fanatic. “I just don’t see it and haven’t felt that vibe at all.”

Stark went on to say that if they are going to spend money, they are going to address their outfield situation, particularly left field, first. He added: “I will go back and cite [something] that Dave Dombrowski said at the end of last season: ‘We’ve got plenty of stars. We don’t need more stars. We need to build in around those stars.'”

The current list of teams believed to have interest in Freeman includes the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Tampa Bay Rays.

Something to note: If the Phillies were to acquire Freeman, it would essentially make Rhys Hoskins their primary designed hitter.