Free-agent remorse hits Freddie Freeman hard
Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, becomes emotional during a pregame baseball news conference before taking on his former team, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Credit: AP/Curtis Compton
Imagine the Freddie Freeman scenario playing out with Aaron Judge a year from now.
The Yankees, holding to what they believe is a firm but fair line, ultimately fall short of Judge’s asking price, which ends up in the seven-year, $300 million range. As a result, Judge returns to the Bronx in a Giants or Dodgers uniform, fielding questions about his sentimental homecoming.
Honestly, we doubt it will come to that. No player in the majors means more to his franchise than Judge does to the Yankees, even beyond his on-field performance, and Hal Steinbrenner surely realizes Judge’s transcendent value.
But the events of this past week involving Freeman’s departure from Atlanta, and the potentially litigious fallout four months later, show us that you can’t assume anything when it comes to free agency. Whether it’s a slip-up in communication or overplaying a negotiating stance, things can and do go sideways, as Freeman has implied since last weekend’s return to Truist Park in a Dodgers uniform.
Freeman basically broke down during an emotional news conference at the start of that series, proclaiming his love for Atlanta through teary eyes. Maybe he forgot which clubhouse he had to return to when it was over, because the Dodgers are paying him $162 million over the next six years to be their first baseman. If that’s not enough to turn the page in a more dignified manner toward his current employer, it’s possible that Freeman made the wrong decision to sign there.
“I’m not looking for closure,” Freeman said that day at the podium. “There’s nothing for me to close. Why would I close such a special time in my life?”
Well, Freeman got anything but closure since uttering those words. Turns out, chumming around Truist Park that weekend opened up a whole new can of what-ifs for the 2020 MVP, along with some passive-aggressive pushback from Mr. Dodger himself, Clayton Kershaw. The three-time Cy Young Award winner undoubtedly left money on the table in choosing to stay with the Dodgers for his 15th season, including the one-year, $17 million deal he signed in March (Max Scherzer, who at 37 is three years older, is earning $43.3 million this season). Hearing Freeman bemoan the fact that he no longer plays for Atlanta apparently didn’t sit well with Kershaw.
“He’s obviously been a big contributor for our team,” Kershaw told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “And I hope we’re not second fiddle. It’s a pretty special team over here, too. I think whenever he gets comfortable over here, he’ll really enjoy it.”
That’s quite the slap. Freeman is a SoCal kid, so the Dodgers were always looming as a favored landing spot in free agency, aside from the fact that they also have plenty of cash. But Atlanta had the spiritual ties, considering Freeman matured from a second-round draft pick into becoming what appeared to be the face of the franchise, akin to a next-generation Chipper Jones. And it’s not as if Atlanta is broke, either, with the ninth-highest payroll in the game at $185 million (according to fangraphs.com).
A big chunk of that has to do with Freeman, or rather his replacement. Figuring their talks with Freeman were over — the last contact reportedly was a five-year, $135 million offer that he rejected — Atlanta moved to trade for A’s first baseman Matt Olson on March 14, then signed him to a long-term extension two days later for $168 million over eight years.
Two days after that, Freeman signed his deal with the Dodgers. But it took until late June for everyone to find out just how unhappy he was about doing so.
Shortly after the Dodgers packed up and left Atlanta, ESPN reported that Freeman was firing his agents — he’s represented by Excel Sports Management and lead rep Casey Close — because of his dissatisfaction with the agency’s handling of talks with Atlanta.
The saga took another wild turn when Fox Sports Radio broadcaster Doug Gottlieb said Freeman’s agent failed to brief him on Atlanta’s continued interest and most up-to-date offer. Gottlieb went as far as to say Close did so because he knew Freeman would accept it; the new Dodger found about that detail only during last weekend’s return to Truist Park.
Freeman’s only response to that was to call it a “fluid situation.” But Close, who also represented Derek Jeter throughout his career and is one of the sport’s most influential agents, took a much stronger stance with repeated email statements, which included Newsday.
“Doug Gottlieb tweeted a wholly inaccurate characterization of our negotiations with Atlanta on behalf of Freddie Freeman,” Close said in the first statement, issued Wednesday evening. “We are immediately evaluating all legal options to address the reckless publication of inaccurate information.”
But after another day of consideration, Close evidently felt that first email wasn’t sufficient. The next one, a follow-up sent only 16 hours later, had a more detailed breakdown of his version of the events.
“I will not stand by as the circumstances surrounding Freddie Freeman’s departure from Atlanta are mischaracterized,” Close said. “Since March, [Atlanta has] fostered a narrative about the negotiations which, stated plainly, is false. Part of that false narrative is the suggestion that I did not communicate a contract offer to the Freemans. To be clear, we communicated every offer that was made, as well as every communication Excel had with the [Atlanta] organization throughout the entire process.
“I have a 30-year reputation in this business for integrity and honesty, and I have always operated with the utmost character. At Excel, we are privileged to represent many exemplary athletes, some of whom have chosen to spend their entire careers with one franchise. We always put the player’s goals and best interests first and will always continue to do so.”
Considering the damaging nature of these allegations, Close’s reaction was fairly measured. Excel represents a number of high-profile athletes across the sports landscape, including Kershaw, and this is a cutthroat industry, with heated competition for clients, many scooped up by transfers. If Freeman is saying he was done dirty in his attempt to stay with Atlanta — a place he apparently still has trouble separating himself from — that’s a damning accusation to make.
Close did have a big-time ally come to his defense later in the week, with the former Yankees captain tweeting support for his agent.
“I have known Casey since I was 18,” Derek Jeter said on Twitter. “Over the last 30 years, we have had our share of differences of opinion, but to this day, he remains a trusted adviser and friend. He is a man who values morals, integrity and above all else honesty and transparency.”
After this past week, it seems that some are calling that into question, leaving Close vulnerable and understandably open to possible litigation against those making such accusations. The only thing without dispute in this entire ordeal is Freeman still being homesick for Atlanta. That much is crystal- clear.
“I thought I loved this city and this organization a lot,” Freeman said upon last week’s return to Truist Park. “But you can tell how much I truly do love this organization and this city. I don’t even know how I’m going to get through this weekend.”
Freeman eventually did somehow. But it was a turbulent visit, and how everyone will choose to navigate the other side remains unsettled.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
