Dave Roberts claims Dodgers not impacted by Freddie Freeman saga, but it shows

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts claims that the team is not concerned about the Freddie Freeman sage with his former agent.

Freddie Freeman has dominated the news cycle this week. He recently returned to Atlanta to play his former team in the Braves. Then a report indicated that Freeman had moved on from his Excel Sports Management agent, Casey Close, following his free agency negotiations this past offseason. Then, there were the allegations made by Fox Sports Radio’s Doug Gottlieb that Freeman left because Close had withheld a final contract offer from the Braves.

With everything going on, Roberts said that all of the drama surrounding Freeman, Close, and the Braves does not have an impact on the team.

"“No, I’m not. I think that athletes, teams have a way of compartmentalizing. I think that that’s something that Freddie’s got to deal with,” said Roberts, h/t Dodger Blue.“Certainly there’s more talk of it in our clubhouse, but when the first pitch is thrown, we’re here to win a baseball game. So it has not affect. Us losing the last couple nights, believe me, that had nothing to do with us losing baseball games.”"

Dave Roberts claims Dodgers are not impacted by Freddie Freeman drama with agent, Braves

In Freeman’s return to Atlanta, he was overcome with emotion when speaking with the media, receiving his World Series ring and stepping into the batter’s box for the first time in the series. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw made some interesting comments regarding Freeman.

"“It was very cool (to see Freeman’s reception Friday night),” said Kershaw to Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s obviously been a big contributor for our team. And I hope we’re not second fiddle. It’s a pretty special team over here, too. I think whenever he gets comfortable over here, he’ll really enjoy it. It was a good night for him (Friday).”"

The “second fiddle” comments stood out for sure. In fact, Freeman did say, via The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, that he and Kershaw discussed those comments and that everything was good between them.

Talks between the Braves and Freeman fell apart over a discrepancy in the term of the contract. Freeman wanted six years, while the Braves wanted five. Eventually, the Braves traded for Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson, while Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers.

Close recently denied the allegations made by Gottlieb, and said that the Braves were creating a “false narrative” regarding Freeman’s exit from the team.

This likely won’t be the last we hear about the Freeman-Close-Braves drama. But Roberts insists that it is not a distraction for the Dodgers.