Freddie Freeman's legacy with the Atlanta Braves is incredibly complicated. He was a homegrown prospect who blossomed into a star in Atlanta that won an MVP and a World Series with the Braves. That alone should secure any player's place in franchise history, but Freeman's ugly exit from the organization has tainted what was otherwise an incredible partnership.
The debates over who is at fault for Freeman leaving, as well as Freeman vs. Matt Olson, are old news. Freeman and his agent clearly were not on the same page, and the Braves went out and grabbed Olson, who has been awesome, when negotiations went sideways. Both Freeman and the Braves have done pretty well since the move, and that is what really matters most despite the awkwardness of seeing him in a Dodgers uniform.
However, Father Time and all of those miles on his body seem to be catching up with Freeman these last couple of years. Freeman has battled several nagging injuries, and with the latest being patellar tendonitis, one cannot help but wonder if we could be headed for a reunion between the Braves and Freeman for the twilight of his career.
Dave Roberts speaks with Kirsten Watson and the media following the #Dodgers 6-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins. pic.twitter.com/TV7j4uj3xY
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 13, 2026
Freddie Freeman's current trajectory with Dodgers feels like it could be headed for a Braves reunion once his contract runs out
Before anyone gets too excited, don't expect Freeman to be walking into the Braves' clubhouse anytime soon. Freeman is still owed a bit over $23 million for 2027, and the Dodgers won’t trade him away unless his body completely falls apart. Nothing is likely to happen regarding Freeman before the 2027 offseason, but that is when things could get interesting.
The 2028 season is primed to be a pivotal one for Atlanta. That season is not only the final club option in Ronald Acuña Jr. and Chris Sale's contracts, but Ozzie Albies may very well be gone altogether along with Mike Yastrzemski. A sea of change is inevitable, but it also means there is real merit to bringing Freeman back to help make the transition smoother.
The obvious problem is that Olson isn't going anywhere for the foreseeable future and is a tremendous first baseman. However, Freeman has already dealt with elbow, finger, wrist, and ankle issues in recent years in addition to his current knee issues. If he were amenable to moving to DH, the Braves could play both Olson and Freeman in the same lineup without creating any nightmarish defensive decisions.
The real question is whether or not the sides think a reunion is in their best interests when the opportunity arises. Freeman isn't going to be cheap even if he is willing to move his family's home base across the country again, and the Braves may not want to lock in a player at designated hitter who may not be able to play defense at all. A reunion is far from a slam dunk, but it doesn't take much imagination to see a world where this could happen the way everything is trending.
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