A couple of weeks ago, during a series between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, slugger Freddie Freeman became the center of some controversy when it was revealed he was switching agents.
The episode stems from the fact that agent Casey Close and his agency reportedly failed to inform Freeman of the Braves’ last offer before the first baseman agreed to a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers.
Radio host Doug Gottlieb made that claim.
Now, Close appears eager to fight back.
“Agent Casey Close sued radio host Doug Gottlieb for libel Thursday, alleging in a complaint that Gottlieb defamed him and Excel Sports Management in a tweet regarding the contract negotiations of Dodgers star Freddie Freeman, according to court documents obtained by ESPN,” Jeff Passan tweeted on Thursday afternoon.
Agent Casey Close sued radio host Doug Gottlieb for libel Thursday, alleging in a complaint that Gottlieb defamed him and Excel Sports Management in a tweet regarding the contract negotiations of Dodgers star Freddie Freeman, according to court documents obtained by ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 14, 2022
Accusations Have Gone From Side To Side
If you want to know exactly what Gottlieb tweeted on June 29 about Freeman, close, and the whole contract situation, here is the tweet.
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
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) June 29, 2022
With that message, Gottlieb is implying that Close and his agency didn’t report the Braves’ offer to Freeman because it was lower than the Dodgers’ one.
Agent fees, as a result, would be lower with a hypothetical Braves deal.
The situation has apparently escalated to the point that there could be legal consequences for Gottlieb.
Freeman played his entire career – he was drafted in 2007 and made his MLB debut in 2010 – with the Braves before reaching free agency after the 2021 campaign, which resulted in Atlanta’s first World Series triumph since 1995.
Saying goodbye to the only franchise he has known had to hurt, and that weekend in which he returned to Truist Park was very emotional for him.
NEXT: Dodgers Reportedly Interested In Talented Rotation Help