Braves: Freddie Freeman makes free agency plans crystal clear

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman shares his plans for free agency this winter.

Freddie Freeman has only played for the Atlanta Braves, but the reigning NL MVP will be hitting free agency this offseason.

Drafted out of high school by the Braves in 2007, Freeman has only donned an Atlanta uniform professionally. The five-time NL All-Star is coming off an MVP season and has been the organization’s franchise cornerstone since his mentor Chippper Jones retired after the 2012 campaign. While it may not be up to him, Freeman did offer this: “I am an Atlanta Brave.”

Letting Freeman walk in free agency would be an unforgivable travesty made by Liberty Media.

Freddie Freeman wants to stay with the Atlanta Braves in his free agency

Nearly 20 years ago, it was especially painful to see Tom Glavine not get paid what he was worth and had to go pitch for the New York Mets. Though he did return to Atlanta in his final big league season, it was one of those post-Ted Turner ownership moves that always stuck with the fan base. Simply put, letting Freeman walk is like letting Jones walk. It should not even be an option.

Of course, Freeman will be among the biggest names in free agency. While he may want to take a hometown discount to remain in Atlanta, that is not how baseball free agency works. The MLBPA is the strongest in professional sports and has fought hard for decades for its players to earn the most amount of money possible. Let’s hope the Braves pony up the cash Freeman has earned.

Good luck explaining to an elementary school kid why Freeman is playing somewhere else in 2022.