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Originally Posted by nickerjones
This isn't hockey but it ties to the situation. I wish Johnny would chat with Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers.
Freddie was drafted by the Braves and was the face of the franchise since Chipper Jones retired. This last season Freeman left the Braves as FA for the Dodgers (he is from So Cal). The Braves offered him a 5 year, 140 million offer. Dodgers signed him for 6 years 168 million with 50ish million deferred. Freeman's agent gave the Braves an ultimatum and when the deadline wasn't met the Braves thought their chance was over so made a blockbuster trade (and sign) for another player.
Freeman was in Atlanta for the first time since leaving in UFA last weekend and was visibly shaken and upset. He has since fired his agent. Ex-teammates are allegedly saying Freeman has confided in them that he isn't happy how the FA process concluded and isn't happy he still isn't with the Braves.
There is something to be said about staying with a franchise you're the face of. A place where you could cement your legacy and have your number retired. At the end of the day Johnny has earned the right to what he wants. But staying with the Flames to cement his legacy does have a value.
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The Freeman story is the one you have to watch out for with agents.
The agent kept pushing Atlanta for higher offers even though Freeman wanted to re-sign with them - trying to get every last dollar. Finally Atlanta just went and traded for a replacement and Freeman had to leave Atlanta which he didn't want to.
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It’s beginning to look that way. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Tuesday afternoon that Freeman is changing agents and has told friends he’s “angry with how his free-agent negotiations played out.” As Olney tells it, some tragic misunderstanding between Freeman, his agent Casey Close, and the Braves is to blame for all this. Freeman wanted to stay in Atlanta, Close wanted to hold out for a better offer, and the Braves called Close’s bluff by trading for Freeman’s replacement, Matt Olson, effectively closing the door on a potential Freeman return. Freeman’s very sad statement to MLB.com does not exactly deny that the teary weekend led to Close’s firing:
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