Report: Atlanta Braves close to multi-year contract extension with Freddie Freeman

October 7, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) is congratulated after scoring a run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

After the Jason Heyward contract extension broke on Tuesday morning, there was certainly a sense that all would be quiet on the Atlanta Braves front until arbitration hearings began next week. However, there is a report surfacing as of Tuesday afternoon that would swiftly change all of that.

Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (along with Ken Rosenthal) is reporting that the Braves are close to a multi-year extension for first baseman Freddie Freeman. All indications are that this would not simply be an arbitration buyout similar to Heyward’s, but rather a long-term agreement for bigger money that would keep Freeman in Atlanta for a long time. One rumor that is percolating at the moment would be for Freeman to have agreed to a “McCann-like” extension in the 6-year, $80 million range, but that is pure speculation at this point.

Because the sides are simply “close”, it is too soon to make sweeping judgments, but it was long rumored that Freeman was the most likely of the “big three” to grab a long-term extension, and this is in line with that. We will keep you abreast of the situation as it unfolds this afternoon, but in the very near future, Freddie Freeman could have a whopping contract extension that would cement him as a cornerstone of the organization.