It's been a story all week. No, it's been a story all season. A long time stalwart for the Atlanta Braves, Freddie Freeman became the heart and soul of the franchise. The Braves would build a competitive roster around Freeman as they became one of the top teams in the National League. In 2020, Freddie won the league's highest honor for a player, the MVP. However, the Braves blew a 3-1 lead in the NLCS. The next season was special. Despite losing another cornerstone, Ronald Acuna Jr., to a torn ACL for the season, the Braves rebounded and reached the mountaintop. They were the World Series champions! Atlanta became a championship organization with Freeman as their catalyst. As free agency loomed, Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves were supposed to tie the knot and have a long marriage going forward.
However, .......
The Braves went a different direction and traded prospects to Oakland for Georgia native Matt Olson, a player who plays Freeman's position: first base. The baseball world was shocked. What's worse was that Atlanta signed Olson to an extension. Why would the Atlanta Braves leave Freddie Freeman out in the cold? Freeman signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but even in his introductory press conference, he would mention Atlanta.
All of this would lead us to last week. Freddie Freeman's return to the city where he became a world champion. The ovation he received overwhelmed him. It bought tears to his eyes. Atlanta made Freddie Freeman a star. Many people on the outside would continue to state that he should just move on. Clayton Kershaw made a comment about him hoping that Freeman doesn't consider the Dodgers as a "second fiddle." I believe the comments were taken out of context. Then came a column from Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. The piece painted Freeman as "entitled" and using his tears to hide the "consequences of his actions." As a baseball fan looking from the outside, I don't see Freddie Freeman as "entitled." This is a guy who hugged Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias after he was sobbing while at first base. It was Iglesias' first game back since his father's death. Freddie Freeman is what you want for the game.
Just when you think this situation couldn't get any weirder, during his three days in the ATL, Freddie Freeman fired his agency after he received word that the agent who represented him during free agency, Casey Close, didn't tell Freeman about the Braves' final offer, according to Doug Gottlieb. Close has said that the Braves are "perpetuating a false narrative" when it came to Freeman re-signing with them. Atlanta thought Freeman didn't want to come back and they moved ahead with the acquisition of Matt Olson. Derek Jeter has come to Close's defense, calling him "a trusted advisor and friend." Excel Sports Management, who employs Close, stated that they are looking into the matter. This situation is one of the most bizarre instances between player and agent that we have seen in recent memory, and it won't end anytime soon.
I get it now. While some fans will use the ol' "He has all of this money, why is he not happy where he is at?" shtick, Freddie Freeman is a human being. He felt as if the Braves moved forward without him. The Dodgers gave Freeman a home and it will take some time for him to adjust. It should be smooth since he is from Southern California. Through the money and fame, Freddie Freeman had his feelings hurt.
I get it now.
(Sources: New York Post, Los Angeles Times, ESPN, Fansided, Yahoo)
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