Braves and Dodgers fans are still buzzing over Freddie Freeman’s departure from Atlanta, even with the Dodgers fresh off their 2024 World Series win. It’s a saga with all the ingredients of baseball drama. One including contract disputes, intense fan loyalty, and a narrative twist involving Freeman’s former agent Casey Close. Freeman’s absence still lingers and reminds us of what could have been for Atlanta.
Freeman left Atlanta after the 2022 season in a move that shocked Braves fans. For years he was the face of the franchise and a beloved player who seemed destined to stay with the team. However, contract talks took a wrong turn. Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves GM, made a decisive move trading for Matt Olson.
Olson is a power hitter and Georgia native which fit the bill as Freeman’s replacement. He’s since proven his worth with an All-Star season in 2023. Yet for many in Atlanta, Freeman’s exit still feels unresolved, with a sense that the split didn’t have to happen.
Freeman’s relationship with Close, his former agent, is at the heart of it all. Reportedly, Close made a miscalculation by presenting Atlanta with an ultimatum that left little room for negotiation. Freeman, who never wanted to leave Atlanta, had few options when he realized how negotiations had been handled.
Anthopoulos sealed the Olson trade, effectively closing the chapter on Freeman’s tenure. The split became so contentious that Freeman later fired Close when he returned to Atlanta as a Dodger. Close denied mishandling the talks, but the damage was done for Braves fans. To them, it felt like their favorite player had been pushed out.
Adding to the drama, former Mets GM Zack Scott recently stirred the pot by claiming the Braves had concerns about Freeman’s work ethic. His reasoning? An ice cream habit that, he suggested, could affect Freeman’s performance long-term. Yes, you read that right—ice cream.
Scott himself admitted he was merely passing along information he’d heard, but the idea that Freeman’s contract was affected by dessert seemed absurd to fans. And as Chipper Jones pointed out, it’s impossible to know what went down unless you were in the room.
In hindsight, Anthopoulos’s decision to pivot to Olson looks smart, given Olson’s contributions and his potential to be a cornerstone player for years to come. But Scott’s odd “ice cream” theory adds an almost humorous element to a situation that many Atlanta fans see as bittersweet. It sounds more like a tabloid rumor than a legitimate factor in the Braves’ decision-making.
Things have ultimately worked out for both teams though. Freeman has added a World Series title and MVP award to his list of achievements with the Dodgers. Then Olson is growing into his role as a star for the Braves, already having big seasons at the plate and in the field.
Yet, in Atlanta, Freeman’s legacy remains a mix of pride and regret. He is a symbol of a beloved player whose departure still leaves questions. Sometimes, a decision’s full impact only becomes clear years later in baseball- and in life- regardless of the wins or awards that follow.
