Freeman wins MVP!!

The extension got a little more expensive.

Odd to say, but I'm not so sure it did. If AA goes out and gets a big bat this winter on more than a one year deal the funds were already going to be limited anyway - particularly with the raises for Acuna, Albies, Fried, and Soroka on the horizon. Finally getting some hardware isn't likely going to change what they can afford to offer him. It might change what other teams are willing to offer him though.

Purely speculation, but they've probably already sat down and mapped out how far they can go with Freddie. He's been kept in the loop about most decisions for a while now. I just get the feeling that he knows exactly what they can give him, and that he's been consulted about this winter's strategy. If a long-term guy like Springer or Ozuna is brought in, the chances of Freddie being extended for anything even remotely close to market value disappear unless payroll goes up substantially by next winter - DH or no DH.
 
I rarely anticipate players actually extending teams a "hometown discount"—and I fully support that, given the economics of baseball (which do stink, but not for the reasons Schuerholz intended).

However, I think Freeman might be the odd player who goes that route, given that Chipper Jones did that at the end of his career, and Freeman reportedly wears a ripped and ratty old Atlanta Braves t-shirt under his uniform every game that was gifted to him by Chipper. Not to mention, as clv notes, the organization has been pretty inclusive with Freeman vis-à-vis long-term planning, et cetera.

I'm not suggesting he will (or should) play for peanuts; but a reasonable sub-market extension feels like it could get it done, in this case. Plus, Albies and Acuña have already set a shining example for him re letting the Braves underpay them.
 
I rarely anticipate players actually extending teams a "hometown discount"—and I fully support that, given the economics of baseball (which do stink, but not for the reasons Schuerholz intended).

However, I think Freeman might be the odd player who goes that route, given that Chipper Jones did that at the end of his career, and Freeman reportedly wears a ripped and ratty old Atlanta Braves t-shirt under his uniform every game that was gifted to him by Chipper. Not to mention, as clv notes, the organization has been pretty inclusive with Freeman vis-à-vis long-term planning, et cetera.

I'm not suggesting he will (or should) play for peanuts; but a reasonable sub-market extension feels like it could get it done, in this case. Plus, Albies and Acuña have already set a shining example for him re letting the Braves underpay them.

Freddie's just that rarely seen no nonsense type of guy who realizes that he and Chelsea and the kids will be able to live pretty well just on what his pension, speaking and commentator income, and possibly even coaching gigs will pay him after he retires. He's probably already "banked" $120-$125 million of the $135 million this contract has paid him on top of that. He just seems like the kind of personality to tell Chelsea "honey, I'm going to play 4-5 more years on 1 year/$15 million deals until I stop having fun or until I've bought you everything you want - whichever comes first. Go start spending that money". They'll still be talking to him in the booth and asking him to make appearances for the organization 40 years from now like Aaron does - how many people are out there that are as well-spoken as he is AND will have the stories to tell about Chipper AND Acuna like he will?
 
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