Braves trade rumors: Freddie Freeman reportedly being shopped

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves are open to trading Freddie Freeman, and have brought him up to a few teams.

"Officials from three different clubs told me that the Braves have indeed shopped first baseman Freddie Freeman, with one saying such a possibility was 'the talk of the (Arizona) Fall League' among scouts about 10 days ago.

The Braves, another official says, are 'shopping everyone owed money' - a group that would include right-hander Julio Teheran, right fielder Nick Markakis, and center fielder Cameron Maybin, among others."

The Braves are serious about going all out for a rebuild, and trading Freeman would undoubtedly make that clear, if it's not already. While Rosenthal suggests that Atlanta might be entertaining offers for their All-Star first baseman, their GM, John Coppolella, refuted the report.

#Braves Coppolella when asked just now specifically about new Freeman rumor: "We have not had any trade discussions on Freddie Freeman."

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienAJC) November 15, 2015

It's difficult to put much stock into a GM saying a trade rumor isn't accurate, as often times they'll try to deflect any attention surrounding a specific player. Just last year, Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi said they weren't "dangling" Dee Gordon, and that he was their second baseman; but 24 hours later he was dealt to the Marlins.

After trading Andrelton Simmons to the Angels, Freddie Freeman is the last everyday player left from the 2013 team, the most recent year in which the Braves made the playoffs. Their trajectory has changed quite a bit since that season, and Freeman is one of the last remaining relics from that time.

While he's cost-controlled through 2021, if the Braves are looking to shed salary while adding a haul of prospects, trading Freeman would be the way to accomplish that goal.