Freddie Freeman, the former Atlanta Braves‘ slugger, is perhaps the best and most talented hitter in free agency.
We are not sure that, at 32 and with Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, and Kris Bryant, he is the best player, but no hitter has the kind of track record and potential to produce in the next three or four years that Freeman currently boasts.
The only team he has played for in his MLB career, the Braves, are apparently unwilling to meet his salary demands.
Freeman is said to be seeking a contract worth around $180 million for at least six years.
The Braves are reluctant to go with such a long commitment given his age.
Their loss will probably be someone else’s gain.
The Braves Do Have The Resources To Sign Freeman
What hurts Braves fans the most is that the team has the money to make a deal happen.
The financial report of the 2021 Braves was made public on Friday, and it showed a lot of positives.
“The Braves reported $568 million in revenue in 2021. It’s time to pay Freddie Freeman,” CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee wrote on Twitter.
The Braves reported $568 million in revenue in 2021. It's time to pay Freddie Freeman. pic.twitter.com/g8LR2FaGKx
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) February 25, 2022
If you were sympathizing with MLB owners in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks, perhaps it’s time to re-think your stance.
Owning an MLB franchise is an extremely profitable venture: except for the pandemic year, a season usually returns a considerable amount of money.
In the specific case of the Braves, it’s likely that they don’t want to pay for Freeman’s decline.
Yes, he is 32, but is coming off a .300/.393/.503 season with 31 home runs, 120 runs, and five postseason dingers.
He remains very much one of the best hitters in MLB.
What else do they want?
It’s time to bite the bullet and sign Freeman, a fan favorite, to the six-year deal he’s seeking.
NEXT: Freddie Freeman Has Yet Another Elite Stat To His Name
