Former Mets GM has the wildest theory yet on why Braves lost Freddie Freeman
Former New York Mets GM Zack Scott had a ridiculous theory as to why the Atlanta Braves let Freddie Freeman walk.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series a few days ago, and while MLB free agency is the main talking point among baseball pundits as we enter a strange winter, Freddie Freeman is still fresh on the minds of Atlanta Braves fans.
Freeman, of course, left the Braves in the 2022-23 offseason to sign with the Dodgers. The longtime Braves face of the franchise had a public contract dispute with Atlanta, which eventually ended when Alex Anthopoulos traded for Freeman’s replacement – current Braves first baseman Matt Olson.
Freeman eventually fired his agent, Casey Close, upon his return to Atlanta as a member of the Dodgers. Close has denied these claims, but reporting around Freeman’s free-agent chase suggests his former agent gave the Braves an ultimatem which ultimately backfired. Freeman never had any intention of leaving Atlanta, but when Anthopoulos dealt for Olson – assuming there was no chance the Braves could land Freeman at an affordable price – he returned home to the Dodgers.
It all worked out in the end. Olson is a Georgia native and fine heir-apparent, even making the NL All-Star team in 2023. Freeman won a World Series for his hometown team and took home the World Series MVP award while he was at it.
