With Freddie Freeman back in Atlanta for another series, it's time to ask: who won the breakup, the Braves or the Los Angeles Dodgers?
A year after leaving the Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is once again facing his former team in Atlanta.
On Monday, it was Freeman who led the Dodgers to victory against his former team. After going down 4-0, the Dodgers, behind Freeman's three-run homer, rallied to beat the Braves 8-6. The game increased Freeman's season totals to a whopping .328/.399/.569 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 223 plate appearances.
So, it begs the question: who is the early winner in the Freeman sweepstakes, the Dodgers or Braves?
Freddie Freeman move: The case for the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers, of course, were the team who signed Freddie Freeman. And the contract — a six-year, $162 million deal — looks like a steal.
Just look at Freeman's production. In Atlanta, Freeman had established himself as one of baseball's premiere first baseman, hitting .295/.384/.509 with 271 home runs and 941 RBI in 12 seasons. He has been much better in Los Angeles, hitting .326/.405/.525 with 30 home runs and 131 RBI in 208 games.
Freeman, 33, has solidified the Dodgers' first base position and helped ease the losses of Trea Turner and Corey Seager the past two offseasons. He has helped the Dodgers stay atop the National League West the past two seasons, especially this year, as they have introduced a flux of young talent to the roster as they worked to create payroll flexibility for a potential run at Shohei Ohtani in the offseason.
The signing has been a resounding success in Los Angeles — and considering his production, it couldn't be off to a stronger start.
Freddie Freeman move: The case for the Atlanta Braves
Freddie Freeman should have never left the Atlanta Braves, and replacing his production was going to be borderline impossible. But team president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos did about as good of a job as possible in doing so.
In the hours before Freeman agreed to terms with the Dodgers, as it became increasingly clear he wasn't going back to Atlanta, Anthopolulos acquired star first baseman Matt Olson in a trade with the Oakland A's — and promptly signed the then-28-year-old to an eight-year, $168 million contract.
In his first year in Atlanta, Olson played in all 162 games, and hit .240/.325/.477 with 34 home runs and 103 RBI, and further bolstered his case as one of baseball's best power-hitting first basemen. In 2023, he's hitting .239/.371/.528 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI in 213 plate appearances, but has also struck out a whopping 67 times.
Olson, now 29, has been well-worth the $168 million contract. He also fit what the Braves wanted — he's four years younger than Freeman — and his long-term deal is likely to age better than Freeman's.
The final verdict
The breakup between Freeman and the Braves could have, and should have, gone a lot smoother. In the end, both teams got what it wanted. But in terms of production through 1 1/4 seasons, the Dodgers have come out on top.
But it wouldn't be a surprise if the Braves ultimately were the team that came out on top.