Braves-Matt Olson rumors could be opening Dodgers need on Freddie Freeman

Though MLB and the MLBPA are closer than ever before in their attempt to resolve their CBA disagreement en route to a 2022 season (NOTE: still very far), the narrowing of the gap has only increased our desire to scheme and plot in order to help the Dodgers.

After all, we’re not quite at the point where the free agency frenzy dominoes start falling, but we’re probably closer than ever. The losses of Corey Seager and Max Scherzer are about to be genuinely felt, rather than reflected only as gray, faceless blobs on MLB’s sites.

When the moment comes and the cone of silence is lifted, plenty of folks believe the Dodgers will act in a way befitting of their current nearly-unlimited payroll.

According to the latest set of rumors, though, the Braves might act even quicker than Andrew Friedman — and in a way that can only benefit the Dodgers.

As the Freddie Freeman standoff with Atlanta’s front office continues, Ken Rosenthal has theorized that the Braves may strike first, consummating a deal with the A’s for Matt Olson that they discussed prior to the lockout. If that happens, there’s no reason the Dodgers shouldn’t be first in line for Freeman, who would suddenly be knocked out of a position of power.

Dodgers could poach Freddie Freeman after Braves-Matt Olson trade

Olson is 4.5 years younger than Freeman and a Georgia boy, and would only cost prospect capital. He comes with two seasons of control before another decision would have to be made.

Freeman? He’s, of course, a California local and his demands line up much more cleanly with the way the Dodgers do business than with the Braves’ motives.

Yes, even though he’s an Atlanta legend. Rosenthal just can’t rule out the preemptive strike.

Of course, this Olson leverage comes on the heels of ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez ranking the Yankees above the Dodgers among the non-Braves Freeman suitors, even though the Yanks have shown no desire to pay a similar price for a shortstop, their most prominent position of need.

If Matt Olson becomes a Brave, the Dodgers have the far deeper pockets and clearer connection to the free agent than the Yanks.

Consider the door officially opened if the Braves have been bothered enough to pursue a union with the younger, cheaper Freeman. Or perhaps LA just … beats them to it and trades for Olson?

3 Dodgers trades that can help LA win the offseason

The Los Angeles Dodgers can still win the offseason if Andrew Friedman pulls off any of these trades when the MLB Lockout ends.