VENICE, Florida, USA (AP) Freddie Freeman's name was not mentioned as part of the Atlanta Braves mega deal. In front of the microphones, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos refused to even name him.
As I tried to explain what happened, tears began to roll.
It seems that Freeman's era with the Braves has come to an end after the World Series champions acquired first star baseman Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics. This is an important change that cost them four players, including young Dominican outfielder Cristian Pache.
Freeman was the Most Valuable Player in the National League in 2020 and five times elected to the All-Star Game in 12 years with Atlanta. His frank leadership proved to be instrumental in winning the championship. He became a free agent after the season, but even then it was hard to believe that he would not return.
He did not sign before the lineups were frozen on December 2 as part of the 99-day lockout. When they unlocked the squads, reports emerged that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees were fighting to sign the left-handed slugger.
Anthopoulos acknowledged that on Sunday it became clear to him that Freeman would not return. At that time they began to search intensively for Olson.
“One of the best first basemen,” Anthopoulos assured of Olson.
He refused to talk about Freeman, who remains a free agent, but admitted that he had never had a harder time emotionally than when he approved the trade.
“You get attached,” he acknowledged.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker was talking to reporters when ESPN broke the news. He said it was the first time he'd heard about the trade.
“He's been our player for several years,” Snitker said of Freeman. “Personally, it meant a lot to me.”
Snitker, 66, knows Olson well, growing up 40 minutes east of Truist Park in Lilburn, Georgia. Snitker said they worked together in several youth camps.
Olson has twice won the Golden Glove and has a batting average of .252 in his career, with 142 home runs and .859 OPS in six seasons. The 27-year-old hit 39 home runs and drove 111 runs last season, to be eighth in the American League MVP voting. He has a contract until the end of 2023.
The National League will adopt the designated hitter from 2022. It is possible that Marcell Ozuna is Atlanta's designated hitter after he served his 20-game major league suspension under domestic violence policies.
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