*Photo from the Tampa Bay Times*
After a longer than expected wait, the Freddie Freeman sweepstakes are finally over. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Freeman have agreed to a 6 year, $182 million deal, according to Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Dodgers have confirmed the deal.
With this signing, the book on Freeman's time with the Atlanta Braves has closed, ending with a world series win that was years in the making for both player and team. Of course, we knew it was closed when the Braves traded for star 1B and Atlanta native Matt Olson, and then extended him for another 8 years, making him the Freeman replacement.
After the Freeman and Braves contract differences became public, many teams entered the Freeman sweepstakes, including the Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays were reportedly in it until the end, but Freeman is heading back to his native southern California.
Last season, helping the Braves reach the world series, Freeman hit for a .300 average with a .503 slugging percentage and .896 OPS, hitting 31 home runs with 83 RBI's in 159 games, making the NL all star team. In all 16 playoff games for the Braves, Freeman whacked 5 home runs and drove in 11 of them, including 5 in the world series.
In 12 big league seasons, all with the Braves, Freeman has a .295 batting average and .893 OPS, slugging .509 and hitting 271 home runs, driving in 941 runs in 1,565 games, making 5 all star games. In 42 career playoff games, Freeman has a .290 batting average with a .916 OPS, hitting 9 home runs with 20 RBI's.
Freeman slots into the left handed power bat role in the Dodgers lineup, able to slot into the two spot in the lineup, that Corey Seager had occupied so well in his tenure in Los Angeles. They don't need to replace Seager positionally, as Trea Turner will slot in at shortstop, so Freeman was a perfect fit.
With Freeman in town, he'll take over as the Dodgers everyday first baseman, with Max Muncy being bumped to second base, and Cody Bellinger likely going to the outfield full time, alongside Chris Taylor.
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