(Audacy) Sports agent Casey Close, who represented star first baseman Freddie Freeman before their falling out earlier this year, is suing radio personality Doug Gottlieb for a tweet alleging that Close withheld the Braves’ final offer from Freeman before he joined the Dodgers this offseason, according to multiple reports.
Close claims Gottlieb defamed him both him and his agency Excel Sports Management via libel while making “false, disparaging and derogatory” statements about Freeman’s contract negotiations, according to court documents obtained by Donald Blum of the Associated Press. Before pursuing legal action, Close gave Gottlieb a chance to retract his earlier remarks, then moved forward with the suit when the Fox Sports host declined to do so. Close has 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, he said.
An emotional Freeman returned to Atlanta in June, receiving a lengthy ovation when he accepted his World Series ring from manager Brian Snitker. That caused tension within the Dodgers clubhouse, with ace Clayton Kershaw questioning Freeman’s commitment to the team he signed a five-year contract with.
“I hope we’re not second fiddle,” Kershaw told 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, Freeman was recently snubbed from the National League All-Star team, leading to a tense exchange with 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 productive season, leading MLB 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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