Freddie Freeman Aims to End His Career as a Dodger

Freddie Freeman is keen on wrapping up his career with the Dodgers. And it seems the team feels the same way.

Now would be a good time to make that official.

Freeman is currently in talks for a two-year contract extension, and it would be great if it could be finalized before the season wraps up.

Why not go for it?

“Trust me, I want to get something done right now,” Freeman mentioned.

However, rather than pushing for immediate agreement, Freeman is taking a pragmatic approach. He expressed his desire to avoid pressuring the Dodgers into a hasty commitment.

With his 37th birthday coming in September and one more season left on his contract, he pointed out the complexities ahead. The upcoming expiration of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement means the Dodgers might face entirely different financial rules next year.

“I think there are so many unknown variables at this point. It’s hard to even talk at this point,” Freeman said, highlighting the uncertainty.

On the flip side, it could be argued that because of these uncertainties, the need for immediate action on the extension is necessary.

Team owners have previously shown intentions to manage personnel costs in hopes of boosting their franchises’ value. What remains uncertain is whether they’ll succeed and if that success will come alongside a salary cap or stricter luxury tax penalties.

To illustrate the stakes, imagine that owners do manage to establish a salary cap in the next CBA. It seems unlikely the league would demand that the Dodgers or similarly high-spending teams comply right away. There’s little chance they’d cut his salary, which exceeds $400 million, by such drastic amounts.

Consequently, league officials anticipate that a new system would need a gradual rollout, ensuring already signed contracts would remain valid until the new agreement is ratified.

That would surely be better than suddenly implementing a cap and having to figure out how to accommodate Freeman on the team.

In leagues with fiscal struggles, emotional attachments often come with a price tag. Freeman’s choice to part ways with the Dodgers shouldn’t rely solely on financials. Even though he’s spent just five of his 17 major league seasons with the Dodgers, his impact on the franchise is significant.

Statistics matter, but what sticks with fans is the emotional connection they have with players. Over the past five years, has any athlete stirred up as much feeling as Freeman, even when compared to stars like Shohei Ohtani?

For fans across generations, his walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series is not just a baseball memory; it’s a cherished moment in their lives.

Earlier that same season, Freeman missed games to support his then 3-year-old son Maximus, who had a rare neurological condition that left him temporarily paralyzed. The community rallied around Freeman, welcoming him back to Dodger Stadium with tears and support.

The chant of his first name from the crowd has become synonymous with this era of Dodger baseball.

But nostalgia isn’t all he brings to the table. Freeman continues to be a valuable player.

After a healthy offseason, he earned a spot on his 10th All-Star team this year. He’s poised for a stellar season, with projections indicating he might achieve a 5 WAR, according to Baseball Reference and FanGraphs.

His improved defensive skills reveal that his past struggles were likely due to injuries, not age.

With his compact swing, he doesn’t seem like he’ll become a liability on offense any time soon.

An important milestone is nearing. Freeman could finish this season with nearly 180 hits, pushing his career total beyond 2,600. Although next season might be impacted by the lockout, he still looks to be in a position to reach 3,000 hits within three years.

If he accomplishes this feat, it should certainly be in a Dodgers uniform, and Los Angeles ought to celebrate his achievements.

That all makes sense, but it’s definitely not guaranteed.

Freeman’s exit from the Braves serves as a cautionary tale. He was cherished as a local hero in Atlanta, and after leading the Braves to a World Series championship in 2021, it seemed obvious he would re-sign with them—until he didn’t.

Now, seeing him in a Dodgers jersey during spring training was a moment that caught everyone by surprise.

The Dodgers should seize this chance. While it seems unlikely Freeman will move beyond next season, there’s enough unpredictability to keep everyone on their toes.