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It may be the most salacious soap opera between a player, his agent, and team that has ever spilled out publicly in baseball history.
While we have been deluged with different narratives, truths, lies and inaccuracies, all that is truly known is one fact: Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has formally fired his agency with no plans for reconciliation, had zero intention of leaving Atlanta.
“This guy is very sad he’s not still here in Atlanta," one Atlanta club official told USA TODAY Sports. “He’s still awfully upset. Clearly. It all came out in his emotions last weekend. It was tough to watch’’
Who could have imagined that being paid $162 million playing for the powerful Dodgers, and living close to home wouldn’t assure eternal happiness?
But it’s clear that Freeman’s heart remains in Atlanta, vowing to keep a home in Atlanta, and still plans to celebrate the Thanksgiving holidays with the entire family in Atlanta.
“I don’t know if I ever will find closure,’’ Freeman said last weekend.
Freeman, who originally blamed GM Alex Anthopoulos and Atlanta’s ownership for his departure, now puts the blame squarely on his agent, Casey Close, and his agency, Excel Sports Management.
He formally fired them last weekend, persons with direct knowledge confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
“Everyone knew my priority was to sign Freddie Freeman,’’ Anthopoulos says, “and when he didn’t, we had to prepare for other options.’’
Freeman tried to put on a brave face for the first three months of the season, saying how much he loved playing for the Dodgers, living close to his Corona del Mar home, but when the Dodgers played in Truist Field last weekend, his emotions poured out.
He started crying during a press conference before the start of the series, and while in town, fired Close and the Excel agency.
Freeman has been telling friends, family, teammates, peers and reporters that he would fire Excel after a three-hour FaceTime call with Anthopoulos a week after he signed with the Dodgers. He decided to make the decision official last weekend, telling the Major League Baseball Players Association he is currently representing himself and doesn’t want to be contacted by any agency.
It’s news any time a high-priced player fires his agency, particularly after a free-agent contract is already competed, considering Freeman still is required to pay Excel about $8 million – the standard 5% fee – for the duration of the contract.
It took on a life of its own when Gottlieb tweeted and said during his radio show that Freeman fired Close and Excel while in Atlanta because he just learned was unaware of the final offer.
Close, refusing to stand by and watch his career ruined, fired back with statements on back-to-back days, while defending himself in an interview with USA TODAY Sports.
“I will not stand by as the circumstances surrounding Freddie Freeman’s departure from Atlanta are mischaracterized,’’ Close said in a statement. “Since March, the Braves have fostered a narrative about the negotiations which, stated plainly, is false. Part of that false narrative is the suggestion that I did not communicate a contract offer to the Freemans.
“To be clear, we communicated every offer that was made, as well as every communication Excel had with the Braves organization throughout the entire process.’’
Freeman was copied on every formal offer Atlanta made, multiple people told USA TODAY Sports, so he shouldn’t have been completely surprised.
Maybe he didn’t know about the ultimatum. Maybe there wasn’t an ultimatum. Maybe Close and his agency expected Atlanta to panic and come back with another offer. Maybe Anthopoulos and Atlanta felt that they were left with no choice. Maybe Olson was Atlanta’s first choice. Maybe Atlanta had to move on before they were left with no alternatives.
“I may never know the complete truth,’’ Freeman said.
Freeman’s friends say that if Freeman actually knew that Atlanta would pivot around and trade for Olson if he didn’t sign before the start of spring training, he would have accepted their unofficial five-year, $140 million offer.
We’ll never know for sure, but Freeman has made it quite clear that he never wanted to leave Atlanta, and with of the emotions hitting him at once last weekend, he realized the free-agent outcome was a colossal mistake.
He can blame his agent.
His agent can blame Atlanta.
Atlanta can blame miscommunication between the player and agenct.
Everyone is scrambling to save face now, but in the end, this falls on Freeman.
He was the one ultimately accountable, deciding whether to stay in Atlanta or risk the uncertainty of free agency.
Freeman may still be upset, his nerves still raw after last weekend’s lovefest in Atlanta, but really, whose fault is it?