While Freddie Freeman ultimately departed Atlanta for a six-year/$162 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, there was a brief moment where a five-year pact was on the table from the former National League MVP's camp.
And the Braves said no.
ESPN's Buster Olney wrote a tremendous long-form story on Freeman's departure from Atlanta after 12 seasons, and much of it confirms what we've believed all along -- the Braves were hesitant to go to a sixth year for the 32-year-old. With that apparent, Freeman's camp did put a five-year offer on the table:
"On Friday, March 11, there was a report that the Dodgers were making an intense push to sign Freeman. The next day, Close [one of Freeman's representatives] and Anthopoulos spoke, and, according to four sources, Close told Anthopoulous that the Braves had an hour to accept one of two proposals -- a six-year, $175 million deal, an average of a little more than $29 million a year, or a five-year, $165 million deal, an average of $33 million per season.
"Anthopoulos rejected both of Excel's proposals. The two sides agreed on only this: All offers and proposals were off the table. Both sides needed to prepare for an Atlanta squad without Freddie Freeman."
Granted, giving a team an hour to decide on an offer might not be the best way to extend an olive branch. But even if it came with a higher average annual value, going to five years was a concession from Freeman's camp. For one of the greatest players in franchise history, you would have thought that the Braves would have been inclined to meet him halfway.
Instead, the Braves traded for Olson three days later, and gave him an eight-year/$168 deal on the way in the door. Olson -- who will turn 28 later this month -- is already a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, who will likely become a fan-favorite in Atlanta.
But with Freeman now set to play for arguably the biggest threat to the Braves returning to the World Series, we'll always wonder whether the five-time All-Star could have spent his entire career playing for the organization that he clearly loved.
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