Clayton Kershaw has no idea what Freddie Freeman went through in Atlanta

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was amazed by the reception Freddie Freeman received from Braves fans in his return.

Freeman was emotional, and rightly so. He spent his entire career with Atlanta up until this offseason, and expected to re-sign with the Braves prior to the lockout.

Yet, things change. Atlanta acted on what they perceived to be a change in the market, and traded for Matt Olson — Freeman’s long-term replacement. Freeman signed with his hometown Dodgers and the rest is baseball history.

For a brief moment this weekend, Freeman returned home, and he got emotional. It happens — especially considering how this all went down, and the fact that these Braves won a World Series together.

Kershaw was surprised, and seemed the throw some shade in Freeman’s direction.

Clayton Kershaw has no idea what Freddie Freeman went through

Kershaw was a free agent this past offseason as well, and despite a flirtation with his hometown Texas Rangers, opted to stay in Los Angeles — the only team he’s ever known. Imagine if he had signed with Texas, though, and visited the Dodgers at home in LA? How emotional would he have been?

Throw a World Series ring into the mix, and now you understand where Freeman is coming from.

Freeman surely appreciates his new home. He doesn’t need to be an Atlanta Brave to perform his very best, and perhaps lead the Dodgers to another World Series this fall. Yet, the Braves and Dodgers operate in different ways.

Los Angeles can afford any player they want. Atlanta, despite the money brought in by Liberty Media, is largely a mid-market team. They are not starving for cash — no MLB organization is, despite what owners may say — but the Braves rarely spend into the luxury tax. They wouldn’t have done so to keep Freeman, as painful as this may be.

The Dodgers see superstars come and go, like it’s nothing. Freeman is a forever Brave. And because of some offseason haggling — or perhaps a miscommunication, depending on who you believe — he is no longer in Atlanta.

It feels wrong, and it will for quite some time.