Freddie Freeman signs with Dodgers – WQKT Sports Country Radio

Freddie Freeman has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a six-year, $162 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel on Wednesday night.

Freeman, 32, reached free agency for the first time in his career after helping the Atlanta Braves win their first World Series since 1995 with a six-game triumph over the Houston Astros. During his 12th big league season, the first baseman hit .300 (eighth in the National League), with 31 homers, 83 RBIs and an NL-leading 120 runs.

Freeman’s deal has the second-highest average annual value ($27 million) ever for a first baseman (behind Miguel Cabrera‘s eight-year deal with the Detroit Tigers that has an annual average value of $31 million) and it is the seventh-richest by total value at the position.

The Dodgers now have given out a $100 million contract in three straight years, following massive deals for Mookie Betts in 2020 and Trevor Bauer in 2021. Freeman is the first infielder (and seventh player overall) to receive a $100 million deal from the Dodgers.

However, the spending gives the Dodgers four former MVPS in Freeman, Betts, Cody Bellinger and Clayton Kershaw. They also add Freeman’s bat to a lineup that led the NL with 5.1 runs per game last season.

The Dodgers’ projected top three hitters — Betts, Freeman and Trea Turner — have three of the six best odds to win NL MVP at Caesars Sportsbook. And L.A. was already the betting favorite to win the World Series with 6-1 odds entering Wednesday; the odds dropped to 5-1 following word of Freeman’s agreement.

That Freeman reached free agency was a bit of a surprise for a player long lauded as the face of the Atlanta franchise. The Braves anointed him as such, inking him to an eight-year, $135 million extension in 2014 to serve as the franchise’s cornerstone player through a rebuild.

Atlanta lost 90 or more games for three straight seasons before emerging as a contender in 2018. With Freeman leading the way, the Braves have since won four straight NL East titles, culminating in last season’s championship.

After the World Series, Freeman’s contract expired and he was extended a qualifying offer ($18.4 million) by the Braves. As expected, Freeman rejected that offer and became a free agent.

Photo courtesy of ESPN