Braves sign Freeman to 8 year 135M deal! *Updated to 135m*

[Tapate50]

Per Roto world.

[thethe]

I will become re-energized as a Braves fan if we can lock up Freeman on a long term deal.

[BRule]

According to Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Braves and Freddie Freeman are close to announcing a multi-year contract extension.
The Braves have already agreed to a two-year deal with Jason Heyward to avoid an arbitration hearing and now it appears that Freeman is next. Freeman, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, requested $5.75 million and was offered $4.5 million from the Braves when arbitration figures were exchanged last month.

[cajunrevenge]

It doesnt say its a deal that buys out any free agent years though. Got my hopes up anyways. Freeman = #1 priority imo.

[CrimsonCowboy]

Get it done!

[skillet]

Would love to see a 5 year deal, buying out his 3 arby years and 2 free agent years, but more likely it is similar to Jason's.

[lwj10jr]

done deal! wonder how long....

[Hawk]

To everyone that was bitching about Liberty, and to the general boo-hoo-ers this offseason: Line up for your delicious crow pie.

[Mrs. Meta]

I will become re-energized as a Braves fan if we can lock up Freeman on a long term deal.

Freeman > Kaepernick

[sc1767]

Going to de-lurk long enough to say great news! Love it.

[Millwood1Hitter]

Excellent news!

[thewupk]

Excellent deal. The 20 million or so he will get per year in his free agency years is about what the market value would be for him right now. The market value would likely be quite a bit more once he were to become a free agent. Overall we get Freeman for 5 additional years covering all of his prime. It's about the best one could expect when extending Freeman.

[jsebe10]

Great move here. Love it.

[yeezus]

Wouldnt say a bargain but if they waited another year, it would of cost more.

It's about market value these days.

I feel like this is a direct contradiction. If it would have cost a lot more in a year, doesn't that mean that down the line $22MM is a bargain?

[Heyward]

I feel like this is a direct contradiction. If it would have cost a lot more in a year, doesn't that mean that down the line $22MM is a bargain?

Technically, yes, but its not like its a Longoria/Cutch/Goldy extension.

Before Longo got his huge deal.

[thewupk]

I feel like this is a direct contradiction. If it would have cost a lot more in a year, doesn't that mean that down the line $22MM is a bargain?

It's not a bargain in the sense that it's market value for what Freeman would likely get today as a FA. However 3 years the market value is likely going to be a lot higher. Will be interesting to see what similar players will get that off season.

[AUTiger7222]

It's not a bargain in the sense that it's market value for what Freeman would likely get today as a FA. However 3 years the market value is likely going to be a lot higher. Will be interesting to see what similar players will get that off season.

I think what should also be taken into consideration is 1st base is a position that is in the midst of a change. Todd Helton just retired. Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, Albert Pujols, Paul Konerko, Edwin Encarnacion, James Loney are all on the wrong side of 30 and a lot closer to retirement than they are to their prime years. There's not a lot of good young up and coming 1st basemen right now. Freddie Freeman, Brandon Belt, Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt. Probably a couple of more I'm forgetting. 2 or 3 years from now Freddie Freeman will be one of the top 5 best 1st basemen in the majors.

[Orphan Black]

I think what should also be taken into consideration is 1st base is a position that is in the midst of a change. Todd Helton just retired. Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, Albert Pujols, Paul Konerko, Edwin Encarnacion, James Loney are all on the wrong side of 30 and a lot closer to retirement than they are to their prime years. There's not a lot of good young up and coming 1st basemen right now. Freddie Freeman, Brandon Belt, Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt. Probably a couple of more I'm forgetting. 2 or 3 years from now Freddie Freeman will be one of the top 5 best 1st basemen in the majors.

Yeah...there was a pretty good article up about the lack of young 1st base talent out there or coming as a good reason to do this contract.

[nsacpi]

Yeah...there was a pretty good article up about the lack of young 1st base talent out there or coming as a good reason to do this contract.

First base though is a position to which players transition from other positions as they age. Napoli moved there full-time last season. Mauer is moving there this season. Posey will too at some point. Maybe McCann.

[thewupk]

I think what should also be taken into consideration is 1st base is a position that is in the midst of a change. Todd Helton just retired. Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, Albert Pujols, Paul Konerko, Edwin Encarnacion, James Loney are all on the wrong side of 30 and a lot closer to retirement than they are to their prime years. There's not a lot of good young up and coming 1st basemen right now. Freddie Freeman, Brandon Belt, Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt. Probably a couple of more I'm forgetting. 2 or 3 years from now Freddie Freeman will be one of the top 5 best 1st basemen in the majors.

Another good point. And of that last group right now Freeman would be the 2nd best player.