With an impending lockout amid collective bargaining that expires at 11:59 pm tonight, many players remain unsigned with a lot of things uncertain.

One of those unsigned free agents is Freddy Freeman, a five-time All-Star, notorious “Phillie Killer,” and someone the Phillies should try to sign.

Freeman’s offseason outlook

Freeman, 32, is looking for a contract “of approximately $ 180 million over 6 years” according to Jon Heyman.

The contract Freeman is looking for is a godsend for a player of his caliber, especially with the high-value contracts signed this offseason.

Line-up consisting of Bryce Harper and Freddie Freeman seems a bit far-fetched, but if the Phillies finally decide to go over the luxury tax, it could come true.

Can the Phillies succeed?

For the 2022 season, the Phillies have $ 38,306,052 to play with before exceed the tax according to Destiny Lugardo.

If the Phillies gave Freeman his average annual worth of $ 30 million, it still gives them the opportunity to acquire a reliever, like Corey Knebel, and is potentially still below the threshold.

With the need for two more outfielder always a must, Freddie at the Phillies deal would almost guarantee the Phillies cross that threshold.

People have been begging the Phillies to go over tax for years now, and Freddie Freeman is a great excuse to finally do it.

The Phillies haven’t been afraid to spend large sums of money in recent years, but the luxury tax has always been a stopping point.

Should the Phillies do it, if they can?

Having the 2020 and 2021 National League’s most valuable players in the same roster is something that probably isn’t going to happen, but the interest should be mutual.

Freeman has a career slash line of .295 / .384 / .509 with 271 homers and 941 RBIs and has never played less than 115 games. In 2020, he played in all 60 Atlanta regular season games.

He was the poster boy for Consistency; in one position, the Phillies have sorely missed over the past few years.

Freeman has an elite glove on first base, something the Phillies haven’t had on first in some time. Freeman won a Golden Glove in 2018.

With the designated hitter looming in the National League looming, Freeman gives the Phillies a great opportunity to keep Rhys Hoskins’ bat in the lineup without his inferior defense hurting them.

His career batting average of nearly 0.300, nearly 300 home runs and 1,000 RBIs also make him desirable.

The Phillies will certainly be in a bidding war with division rival Atlanta Braves, but if John Middleton is to claim his trophy, Freeman can speed that process up exponentially.

Photo credit: Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire