Atlanta Braves need to extend Freddie Freeman again
By David Hill
Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman has just one more year left on his current deal. Another extension makes sense for both sides.
Prior to the 2014 season, the Atlanta Braves signed Freddie Freeman to an eight year extension worth $135 million. It was a bit of a gamble; while Freeman was coming off of his first All Star campaign and finished fifth in the NL MVP vote, he still had less than four years of major league experience under his belt.
That extension turned out to be a bargain for the Braves. However, Freeman is about to enter the final year of that contract, presumably making him eligible for free agency after the 2021 campaign. Yet, that may not be the case, as both sides are looking to continue their relationship.
Freddie Freeman has one year left on an eight-year, $135 million contract, but he & the #Braves have made clear the mutual interest in re-upping. He reiterated that Monday. "I think Alex (Anthopoulos) and everyone knows, and the fans know, this is where I’d love to stay... (1/2)
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) October 5, 2020
It makes sense that both sides would be interested. Freeman will be 32 years old at the end of the current deal, and would presumably have a few good years left. Likewise, ensuring that Freeman retires without playing for another team would generate an impressive amount of goodwill.
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For Freeman, the timing of such talks could not be better. He had the best season of his career, producing a .341/.462/.640 batting line with 13 homers and 53 RBI. Freeman also led the majors with 51 runs scored and 23 doubles, putting him squarely in the midst of the NL MVP debate.
The current agreement has been a fruitful one for Freeman and the Braves. He has emerged as a star, a four time All Star with two top five finishes in the MVP balloting and a Gold Glove at first. In his 11 years with the Braves, Freeman has a .295/.383/.509 batting line with 240 homers and 342 doubles.
There would be risks associated with another long term extension. We have seen how the contracts handed to Albert Pujols and Joey Votto have turned out. But the Braves could conceivably get around that issue by front loading any extension, protecting themselves as he inevitably succumbs to Father Time.
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Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves are interested in continuing their relationship beyond 2021. An extension to keep him in Atlanta for the rest of his career needs to happen.