Report: Braves exploring trade options for 1B Freddie Freeman

The Atlanta Braves are exploring a trade that would involve first baseman Freddie Freeman.

The Atlanta Braves are exploring a trade that would involve first baseman Freddie Freeman, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Rosenthal reports the Braves have been shopping Freeman and several other players who are owed money, including rightfielder Nick Markakis, centerfielder Cameron Maybin and starting pitcher Julio Teheran.

Freeman has played for the Braves all six years of his major league career. Last year, he signed an eight-year, $135 million contract that keeps him under team control until 2022. Freeman is owed $12 million in 2016 and $20.5 million in '17.

Freeman has been an All–Star twice and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2011. He has a .285 career batting average with 104 home runs and has been among the Braves’ most reliable players, playing in all 162 games in 2014.

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The Braves off-loaded another large contract on Thursday when they traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels. Simmons had signed a seven-year, $58 million contract with the Braves in 2014.

- Erin Flynn