When the Los Angeles Dodgers played a three-game set on the road against the Atlanta Braves this past weekend, things got emotional for Freddie Freeman for a few reasons. But they weren’t all reminiscent.
Freeman was drafted by Atlanta in 2007 and made his major league debut in 2010. He played 12 seasons with the Braves, winning an MVP, a Gold Glove at first base, three Silver Sluggers and making five All-Star appearances. Last season, he capped off an amazing career in Atlanta by winning the World Series.
To celebrate Freeman’s first time back in the Braves stadium, Truist Park, his old skipper Brian Snitker presented him with his World Series ring. Freeman was visually emotional during the presentation, and he was wiping tears and waving to fans all the way through the last game of the series on Sunday Night Baseball.
And that is where the warm and fuzzy emotions ended for Freeman, and the not-so-fun emotions began.
On Tuesday, Freeman fired his agency, Excel Sports Management, according to multiple sources. Freeman himself hasn’t confirmed the firing, but had this to say in an article on MLB.com:
“Last weekend in Atlanta was a very emotional time for me and my family. I am working through some issues with my longtime agents at Excel. My representation remains a fluid situation and I will update if needed.”
Then, Fox Sports Analyst Doug Gottlieb shared some stunning news on Twitter:
Casey Close was the lead agent negotiating a possible new deal in Atlanta for Freeman last offseason. After much back and forth, it’s been reported that the Braves final offer was five years, $140 million. But according to Gottlieb, Close withheld information from Freeman regarding Atlanta’s final offer to push his client towards Los Angeles.
Freeman later opted to take a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers. But the first baseman’s deal with Los Angeles contains $57 million in deferred salary. That combined with California’s hefty state taxes, and that $140 million offer from Atlanta may end up being worth more than the Dodgers deal.
Close said in a statement:
“Doug Gottlieb tweeted a wholly inaccurate characterization of our negotiations with the Atlanta Braves on behalf of Freddie Freeman. We are immediately evaluating all legal options to address the reckless publication of inaccurate information.”
As of now, it’s he-said-she-said between Gottlieb and Excel. But Freeman firing the agency shows there must be some truth to the matter. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the MLB Players Association emailed all agents instructing them not to contact Freeman at this time. This was done to prevent a barrage of agents from contacting Freeman.
Freeman had previously been outspoken about what he felt was a lack of communication from the Braves on a new contract. But he seems to have made peace with the organization knowing how Excel and Close handled the negotiations.
It was even reported that Freeman was so emotional last weekend because he realized he could still be playing in Atlanta.
