Braves fans aren’t going to like this news. According to Ken Rosenthal, Freddie Freeman is close to signing a six-year contract with the Dodgers worth $160 million.
Free-agent first baseman Freddie Freeman in serious talks with the Dodgers, sources tell @TheAthletic. Deal expected to be in six-year, $160 million range. First with talks progressing: @jonmorosi.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 17, 2022
I wasn’t in the negotiation room with Freeman and the Braves, but this contract is telling. Freeman had his eyes on leaving Atlanta from the jump. He did end up getting the six-year deal he desired, but the AAV is much lower than most people expected. I have a hard time believing the Braves didn’t offer him something similar, and once you take into account the taxes in California, he likely would have netted even more money in Atlanta.
It’s Freeman’s life; he’s free (no pun intended) to do whatever he likes. I’ll always have fond memories of him as a member of the Braves organization, but I would be lying if I said this didn’t tarnish his legacy a bit. Now, he’s joining Atlanta’s biggest obstacle when it comes to winning the National League. Beating the Dodgers is always a great feeling, but it will be that much sweeter if the Braves can do it again in 2022.
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