3 free agents Yankees must sign day after MLB lockout ends

1. Freddie Freeman

We can’t believe Freeman’s on the “must sign the very second free agency reopens” list, either, but recent reporting indicates he might find his new home remarkably quickly. Just ask Buster Olney, who’s been all in on the All-Star both departing Atlanta and getting things finalized ASAP.

So, what does that mean for the Yankees? Only that they’d better run the numbers on the case for and against Freeman a few more times before the transaction window opens, because once it does, there’ll be no room for hesitancy here like there might be on Correa/Story.

The case for Freeman? Elite glove, MVP bat, leadership skills at a position of need, just won his first championship, but still not satisfied because the Braves gave him additional motivation.

The case against? Will have to pay through his age-38 season, will cost more cash than the next two years of Matt Olson.

Sure. Olson would still be a phenomenal get, no matter how close or far the Yanks were to completing a deal there before the lockout was imposed.

If they’re not willing to include Peraza in an Olson deal, however, an Olson deal is not getting done. The A’s will be happy to bargain with the Padres or Braves, a team likely left scrambling in Freeman’s wake.

If the Yankees are out on Olson, they have to be in on Freeman, the only bat strong enough to justify them cashing their shortstop chips on Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

And if they’re going to be in on Freeman, it’s going to happen awfully quickly.

3 free agent fits Yankees fans aren’t discussing enough

New York Yankees fans have perhaps been too distracted by the big-ticket free agents. How about these guys, though? They'd all work.