According to a report, what’s currently holding up the Atlanta Braves from re-signing Freddie Freeman is a sixth year on the deal.
As each day goes by the more nervous Atlanta Braves fans get about the possibility of Freddie Freeman not returning to the team.
Something that probably should have happened two offseasons ago, or last offseason, or last Spring Training, or during the 2021 All-Star break, or after the Braves clinched a postseason berth, or right after they won the World Series — still hasn’t gotten done!
And the more Alex Anthopoulos and the front office drag their feet on this, the more likely it is another team comes in and blows Freddie away with an offer he can’t refuse and one the Braves won’t match.
According to a “report” from Jon Heyman, all it will take is a sixth year on the deal to get it done.
Last heard 6th year was still at issue in Freeman/Braves talks but situation is fluid and they’ve still got to be considered the favorite. Meanwhile, other teams are showing interest in the great Brave.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 16, 2021
I put report in quotes because Heyman isn’t always reliable, and I have a very hard time believing a sixth year is what is holding up this deal.
If that’s the case, then the deal should have been done a long time ago. A sixth year for Freddie Freeman doesn’t worry me in the slightest.
That would sign him through his age 37 season, which is probably fair.
However, I would not be surprised at all if the issue is Freeman wanting a seventh year. That could be pushing it and I could understand AA may be balking at that a little.
But still, it’s Freddie Freeman — the face of your franchise — I’d give him the seventh year if that’s what it took to keep him in Atlanta forever.
I would think there is a boatload of teams that would be willing to give Freeman a six-year deal right now, and probably for more money than the Braves would give him.
Six years at about $28 million a year seems pretty fair.
It seems like the Braves are using their hometown leverage against Freddie here knowing he wants to stay in Atlanta. And I’m sure that’s why we haven’t heard a lot about other teams showing interest; although Heyman’s report states that’s now the case with other teams getting involved.
I appreciate AA for being so reserved and not wanting to drown a franchise in a long-term deal, but this is Freddie Freeman — get it done. I’m gonna go buy some more World Series merchandise now to help out the cause.