The Los Angeles Dodgers are a handful of days into Spring Training and on the verge of beginning their Cactus League schedule, but the buzz around Camelback Ranch understandably is centered around Freddie Freeman and his impending arrival.
Increasing anticipation and speculation reached the finish line on Wednesday night with reports Freeman agreed to sign with the Dodgers. His deal is said to be worth $162 million over six years, though the team has not officially announced the signing.
Per standard process, the Dodgers won’t finalize the contract until Freeman completes his physical.
According to Andy McCullough of The Athletic, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts anticipates that taking place Thursday and having Freeman in camp the following morning:
Freddie Freeman is expected to join the Dodgers tomorrow, Dave Roberts said. He’s getting a physical today.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) March 17, 2022
Freeman joins an already-potent Dodgers lineup as a de facto replacement for Corey Seager. His power from the left side of the plate not only offsets losing Seager to the Texas Rangers, but provides insurance as Max Muncy recovers from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and Cody Bellinger tries to rebound from a down season.
Freeman has been nothing short of a model for consistency since his career began with being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft.
The Braves signed him to an an eight-year, $135 million contract extension in February 2014, which was the richest contract in franchise history as it surpassed the seven-year, $90 million pact Chipper Jones received in 2000.
Ronald Acuña Jr. then signed the largest contract in Braves history with his eight-year, $100 million deal, but that designation now belongs to Matt Olson’s eight-year, $168 million pact.
Freeman hit .295/.384/.509 with 367 doubles, 271 home runs and 941 RBI during his career with the Braves.
Freeman gives Dodgers 4 MVPs
The 2022 Dodgers are now the fifth team in MLB history to have four MVPs on their roster in the same season. They are doing so in back-to-back years, as the signing of Albert Pujols helped them first achieve the rare feat.
The Dodgers’ group of former MVP winners consists of Clayton Kershaw (National League, 2014), Cody Bellinger (NL, 2018), Mookie Betts (American League, 2018) and Freeman (NL, 2020).
The 1978 Cincinnati Reds, 1982 L.A. Angels and 1996 Boston Red Sox also had a roster with four MVPs.
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