Braves delayed opening day impacts Freddie Freeman talks

The MLB lockout isn’t ending anytime soon, meaning the Braves and Freddie Freeman aren’t coming to an agreement in the near future.

The Braves longstanding drama with Freeman has gotten old quickly for fans. The team’s ownership group, Liberty Media, made a sizable profit this past season in which the Braves won the World Series.

So, what’s holding the Braves back from re-signing a player of Freeman’s stature?

Technically, it’s the MLB lockout. Players and their representatives are forbidden from speaking with front offices during this time period. So, Freeman remains a free agent, with little to no progress as he waits on MLB and MLBPA to agree to a new CBA.

Opening Day is likely to be delayed for some time while the two sides try to come to an agreement. After a new CBA is agreed upon, free agency 2.0 will open, and Freeman will be free to sign elsewhere.

Freddie Freeman rumors: Where do things stand?

Freeman wants a six-year, $180 million deal, ideally. That sixth year is very important to him, as he’s turned down several five-year offers in hopes of securing a longer contract.

The Braves, meanwhile, are afraid that Freeman’s defensive ability will deteriorate as he ages. There’s not much to prove that assumption, as Freeman is still worth every penny at 32. But at 38, will he remain as agile in the field?

Freeman is disgusted he had to play all season on an expiring deal despite being the face of the franchise. And in spite of all that, he led a shorthanded Braves team to a World Series. It was the team’s first World Series title in nearly two decades.

Yet, this is the same organization that wants to skip out on the final year of his proposed deal?

Freeman and the Braves are largely in the same place they were before the lockout, but as more time passes, anger can build. The latest round of rumors haven’t been kind to Atlanta, and that’s likely to continue the longer this goes.