It was a shock when Freddie Freeman signed with the Dodgers. While his reported contract demands and the Atlanta Braves offered contract were far apart, the expectation had been that he would remain with the only organization he had ever known.
It was also fair to wonder what was going through Freeman’s mind after an emotional weekend in Atlanta. Those questions were louder after he reportedly fired his long time agent, Casey Close, after his first time back in Atlanta as a member of the Dodgers.
Casey Close denies claims of hidden Atlanta Braves contract
Statement on behalf of Casey Close:
— excel sports (@excelsm) June 30, 2022
Doug Gottlieb tweeted a wholly inaccurate characterization of our negotiations with the Atlanta Braves on behalf of Freddie Freeman. We are immediately evaluating all legal options to address the reckless publication of inaccurate information.
That is where the speculation begins. According to Doug Gottlieb, the Braves had made a final offer to Freeman, one that his agent knew he would accept. However, Close never told Freeman of the offer, leaving the Braves to pivot to Matt Olson and their former first baseman heading to Los Angeles.
One must question whether or not this actually happened. Gottlieb is not known for breaking news. Keeping an offer from a team that a player desperately wanted to go to, or remain with, would be a death knell to an agent’s career if it was to become known. And, considering Close is worth over $70 million, would he really keep an offer from one of his top clients if the difference in his take was a few hundred thousand dollars? Something does not add up.
The questions may all be on Gottlieb’s side. According to Tom Verducci at Sports Illustrated, Close not only denied those allegations, but is looking into legal action against Gottlieb because of that report. Since there is absolutely no evidence of this contract, or that Close hid it from Freeman, such actions make perfect sense. The burden of proof is on Gottlieb and he does not appear to have a leg to stand on.
As for Freeman, he has said that his representation is fluid, and although he did file the paperwork to end his time with Close and Excel, that has not officially ended yet.
Emotions were certainly high over the weekend. Freeman was back home in Atlanta, a team he clearly wanted to stay with for the rest of his career. Adding such allegations only makes the situation that much worse.
Doug Gottlieb is claiming that Freddie Freeman’s agent withheld a contract from the Atlanta Braves. He better have a good lawyer.