Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman told the Los Angeles Times when he finally got over the Atlanta Braves.
One of the biggest stories of the offseason was the failed contract negotiations between the Atlanta Braves and first baseman Freddie Freeman. After signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Freeman made his return to Atlanta in June in what was a very emotional series against his former team. Tears were shed by Freeman on the field and in the press conference room.
Freeman spoke with Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, and opened up about finally moving on from the Braves following his return to Atlanta.
Below is an excerpt from Harris’ interview with Freeman:
He had expected it to be an emotional reunion. But even he was surprised about how raw it all felt, at how many unresolved feelings that came gushing to the forefront.
“I said at that press conference [in Atlanta] that I wasn’t really looking for closure,” he recalled this week.
Once it was over, however, “that’s when the two-ton boulder came off my shoulder,” he said, adding: “That’s when I knew my feet were in the ground, that I had got everything settled.”
Freddie Freeman talks about finally moving on from Braves
Freeman told Harris that he sent a text to teammates after the Braves series, thanking them for “bearing with [him]” as he went through the emotions. He then recalled a conversation he had with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, where he said “sorry it took three months” to get over the Braves. Friedman told him that he understood, since “you don’t just get over that.”
This past offseason, the Braves and Freeman were unable to reach an agreement on a new contract. Despite fans thinking that the two would ultimately come to terms, the Braves made a trade with the Oakland Athletics to acquire first baseman Matt Olson. The team then signed an eight-year, $168 million contract extension.
Days later, Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract deal with the Dodgers.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Freeman was his usual self in the batter’s box, where he fell just short of winning the National League batting title. But, he is part of a Dodgers team that clinched the No. 1 seed in the NL side of the postseason bracket and the best record in baseball.
Freeman has the chance to win back-to-back World Series. Ironically enough, he and the Dodgers may have to go through the Braves in the NLCS.