Sports agent Casey Close, who represented Freddie Freeman before their falling out earlier this year, is reportedly suing radio personality Doug Gottlieb for a tweet alleging Close withheld the Braves’ final offer from Freeman before he joined the Dodgers this offseason.
Per court documents obtained by Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, Close claims Gottlieb “defamed” both him and his agency Excel Sports Management while making “false, disparaging and derogatory” statements about Freeman’s contract negotiations. Before pursuing legal action, Close gave Gottlieb a chance to retract his earlier remarks, moving forward with the suit when the Fox Sports host declined to do so. Close says he’s received death threats as a result of Gottlieb’s tweet, most of them from Braves fans blaming him for Freeman’s departure in free agency.
An emotional Freeman returned to Atlanta last month, receiving a lengthy ovation when he accepted his World Series ring from manager Brian Snitker. That caused tension within the Dodgers clubhouse with Clayton Kershaw questioning Freeman’s commitment to the team he signed a five-year contract with. “I hope we’re not second fiddle,” Kershaw expressed to Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s a pretty special team over here, too. I think whenever he gets comfortable over here, he’ll really enjoy it.”
Freeman and Close parted ways shortly after, which Gottlieb insists was no coincidence. Along with having to coexist with Kershaw, the veteran first baseman was recently snubbed from the National League All-Star team, leading to a tense exchange with Dodgers beat reporter Dylan Hernandez, who responded by attacking Freeman in a scathing column for the Los Angeles Times. For all the drama surrounding him, Freeman has had a reasonably productive season, leading the majors in hits (109) while also ranking third in doubles (29), fourth in batting average (.317) and seventh in runs scored (57).
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