Where are they going?

It’s mid-February. Pitchers and catchers are supposed to report this week. However, MLB owners and the MLBPA still remain apart on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. We still don’t know when the 2022 spring training will start. And, it will probably take a while to see two parties reach a new agreement. Moreover, some star position players are still unsigned and it will be interesting to see where they will go.

Today, let’s look at infielders. The 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman just won the 2021 World Series title with the Braves. Freeman slashed .300/.393/.503 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI last year. He became an All-Star again in 2021. Freeman has spent 12 years in Atlanta, will he return to the Braves in 2022? Moreover, another MVP is available as well. Kris Bryant won the 2016 NL MVP and he’s one of the key players to help the Cubs end the 108-year World Series title drought. In the 2021 season, Bryant was hitting .267/.358/.503 with 18 home runs and 51 RBI for the Cubs. He was traded to the Giants by the trade deadline and played 51 games for the Giants with a .262/.344/.444 slash line. Kris Bryant actually spent more time in the outfield (696 innings) than he played at third base (386 innings) last year. Is he going to play more in the outfield in the new season? In addition, Anthony Rizzo is also a key player to help the Cubs win the 2016 World Series Champions. Rizzo was batting .248/.346/.446 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI for the Cubs over 92 games in 2021 and he was traded to the New York Yankees. He played 49 games for the Yankees and hit .249/.340/.428 with 8 homers and 21 RBI. Rizzo already turned 32 and it will be interesting to see the length of the deal that he will agree to. Furthermore, another veteran is still looking for an opportunity to extend his career. Albert Pujols has already played 21 years in the majors. So far in his career, he has 3301 hits, 679 home runs and 2150 RBI. Last season, he played 24 games with the Angels and played 85 games with the Dodgers. Pujols’ batting average was only .198 with the Angels. However, he batted .254/.299/.460 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI with the Dodgers. The 3-time MVP and future Hall of Famer already turned 42, MLB teams definitely have to think a lot before signing him. Finally, two great shortstops are also available. Trevor Story spent 6 years with the Colorado Rockies and he was selected to the All-Star game twice. Story slashed .251/.329/.471 with 24 home runs and 75 RBI in 2021. By far in his career, Story hit .303/.369/.603 with 95 home runs and 279 RBI at Coors Field and he batted .241/.310/.442 with 63 HRs and 171 RBI in 370 away games. Additionally, Carlos Correa slashed .279/.366/.485 with 26 home runs and 92 RBI in the Astros uniform in 2021. Corey Seager inked a 10-year deal with the Rangers last December. Will Story or Correa sign a contract that’s bigger than the Seager’s contract? Because MLB owners and the MLBPA still haven't signed a new CBA, these players will still have to wait for a while to figure out where they will go. Moreover, we also have to see whether the new CBA will have impacts on the free agent market.