Back in June, radio host Doug Gottlieb had accused (via Twitter) the agency that represented Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman of not relaying the Atlanta Braves’ last offer to the player during offseason negotiations.
Freeman rejected a five-year offering from the Braves and ended up signing a six-year commitment with the Dodgers.
Casey Close of Excel Sports maintained that Gottlieb’s story wasn’t truthful, and filed a libel suit against Gottlieb, alleging that he defamed him and the agency with his tweet.
Gottlieb posted a statement on the matter, clarifying that he was wrong.
It looks like close was right all along.
Gottlieb said that the sources he relied on were incorrect, and that Close communicated every offer to Freeman.
Here is the transcript of Gottlieb’s statement, per MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
Here is the retraction from Gottlieb regarding the Freddie Freeman negotiations https://t.co/8S7IwTkro9
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 7, 2022
Gottlieb Has Apologized To Close
Gottlieb also said he has been in recent touch with Close and that he personally apologized for the problems that his tweet caused.
The original tweet was deleted, but said: “Casey Close never told Freddie Freeman about the Braves final offer, that is why Freeman fired him. He found out in Atlanta this weekend. It isn’t that rare to have happen in MLB, but it happened – Close knew Freddie would have taken the ATL deal.”
The Braves didn’t show particular interest in retaining Freeman’s services during the offseason, given his age and projection for the future.
He remains a top player, but Atlanta did not want to hand him a six-year deal.
Instead, they traded a few young players and prospects to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for 27-year old first baseman Matt Olson, who has a .818 OPS and 28 homers this season.
Freeman has 17 home runs, but a .905 OPS with the Dodgers.
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