And the Answer is…
Based on all of this, the size of contract the Atlanta Braves should be offering Freeman appears to be on the order of this: 5 years at $28 million per season: $140 million total.
As noted previously, that’s still a big hit to the AAV figure even though it’s not terribly much more than he’s already getting.
If there are still team monetary concerns with this level of payment, then perhaps a backloading of the deal would be acceptable… as was done with Ozuna’s recent contract.
Given Freeman’s stated desire to be with the Braves for the rest of his playing days, it would be appropriate to pursue up to 3 more option years at a more modest rate — say $20m/18m/16m or so.
At the 5-year level, this would take him through his age 36 season (he would be 37 at season’s end in 2026). This also would coalesce with other extended contracts of his teammates thusly:
- Ozuna: through 2024; 2025 option
- Acuna: through 2026; options for 2027 and 2028
- Albies: through 2025; options for 2026 and 2027
In the meantime, these contracts expire along the way:
- d’Arnaud: after 2021
- Martin: after 2021
- Morton: after 2021
- Smyly: after 2021
- Inciarte: after 2021 if option not exercised (likely)
- Smith: 2022 or 2023 (if option exercised)
So the Atlanta Braves don’t have a lot of extended deals of concern.
Of note, however: they do not have any starting pitcher under a long-term deal beyond regular team control. Furthermore, the farm system pitching pipeline is drying up, and getting pitchers like Anderson, Soroka, and Fried into long-term deals might become a priority soon.
But that represents another discussion for another day.