Dodgers sign prized free agent first baseman Freddie Freeman
The Los Angeles Dodgers made a massive splash in free agency and have signed prized free agent first baseman Freddie Freeman. The World Series champion will ink a six-year, $162 million deal, per Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel.
Freeman comes to Los Angeles after spending his entire career with the Atlanta Braves. The 32-year-old had been on the Red Sox radar and we’re heavily connected to the club the last 48 hours.
Last season, Freeman hit .300 with 31 homers, 25 doubles, two triples while driving in 83 RBIs in 159 games.
The Dodgers will now add the veteran first baseman to their clubhouse just one season removed from winning the World Series with the Braves.
Freeman’s deal comes on the heels of the Braves inking new first base man Matt Olson to a eight-year, $168 million deal. Atlanta acquired Olson from the Athletics in a massive prospect package earlier in the week.
Freeman is a former Gold Glove winner and will immediately fill a hole in the Dodgers lineup left behind from Corey Seager. The former shortstop signed with the Texas Rangers prior to the MLB lockout.
It’s unclear how aggressive the Red Sox were in the pursuit of Freeman. They’ll need to turn their attention elsewhere to fill some of the holes on their roster.
“I do feel we still have room to add position players to this crew,” Chaim Bloom said back on Dec. 1, before the lockout.
“Obviously swapping Hunter for Jackie does change the handedness of our group a little bit. So maybe the dial moves a little more toward a right-handed bat where before it might have been towards a left-handed bat,” added Bloom.
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