Two upcoming dates critical to the future of the Atlanta Braves

That Last Week

This September 27 date ushers in the last week of the regular season, and time for negotiations should end as the Braves would have to be keeping their focus on the field — particularly if the Phillies are still hanging around (there’s a potentially vital 3-game series happening that week, too).

It’s a date also too close to the playoffs and the end of the season… and to free agency.

Sure:  there is a 5-day period of time after the World Series ends in which teams are permitted the exclusive right to negotiate with their own free-agents-to-be in the hopes of getting them inked before hitting the open market.

But how often has that actually occurred?

If things get that far (and one could easily argue that we’re on the cusp of “that far” already), then teams like the Yankees, Angels, and Dodgers would be lining up to wine and dine Freddie and Chelsea this Winter.  The numbers they would be presenting are of the likes that Atlanta can’t realistically compete with.

And the Braves would have only themselves to blame as they then scramble to find somebody to be their team’s “heart and soul” — never mind also carrying an MVP-caliber bat — for the next 5+ years.

You can’t replace Freddie Freeman.  Period.  On the field or off… or even when playing Team Ambassador to settle down the beanball battle that emerged with the Nationals this week… the man was shuttling all over the field like he was Henry Kissinger.

The floor is $26 million – the Goldschmidt deal.  The “Gap” might involve the number of years more than the number of dollars… maybe the Braves want to give only 5.  Maybe Freeman wants 7.

Let’s suggest this:  4 years at $30 million each, a 5th year at $26, a 6th year at $24, and an option for year 7 at $20 million.  A guaranteed $170 million for the 6 seasons (AAV of $28.33 million).

Can the two sides get this done?  The Braves have been making a habit of doing the vital things quickly, knowing that they can control their own destiny in that manner.

Getting Freddie Freeman extended is certainly a task that falls in that category of “vital” things.