The NLCS is ON, folks, and all eyes are locked on Freddie Freeman going head-to-head with his old club, the Atlanta Braves. This guy’s a legend everywhere he’s played, leading the Braves to a World Series in 2021 and then turning around to deliver back-to-back titles for the Dodgers in 2024 and 2025. But how he even left Atlanta in the first place, that’s the real kicker. He was the heart and soul of that team for twelve years, then BAM, he’s gone.
That Wild Offseason Lockout and the Braves’ Big Bet
Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected Freddie to bounce after winning the 2021 World Series. He hit free agency, and the whole baseball world figured he’d retire a Brave. But then, enter the lockout. That thing shut down the entire offseason for most of the winter, and Freeman was one of the big names stuck in limbo, not signed before it hit. His free agency didn’t even truly kick off until March 2022 when the lockout finally lifted. What happened next was lightning fast: within a week of baseball resuming, Freeman went from maybe-returning-to-Atlanta to signing with his hometown Dodgers. Turns out, negotiations with the Braves just didn’t go as planned. So, Atlanta made their move, and they made it quickly: they traded for Matt Olson while Freeman was still out there unsigned. Braves president Alex Anthopoulos didn’t mince words, calling the Olson trade the “hardest decision and transaction” he’d ever made, basically sealing the deal on moving on from Freeman. They snagged Olson, who was 27 at the time, on an eight-year, $168 million deal, figuring he was a younger player and a better value.
The Allure of Home: Why Freeman Chose Blue
Once it was clear the Braves weren’t re-signing him, it felt like Freddie was always heading to Los Angeles. And honestly, who could blame him? He grew up right there in the LA area, so the chance to return home was a huge draw. Plus, the Dodgers were showing some serious interest. He was 32 then, and he inked a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers. And you wanna know the real reason? He laid it all out at his introductory press conference: “When it came down to picking a team at the end, I have a 67-year-old dad and an 86-year-old grandfather that can now be able to watch me play every day. Being home and getting to play in front of my family, that’s what made me decide on the Dodgers.” You can’t argue with that kind of family pull.
Two Titles for LA, and Atlanta’s Bold New Path
Looking back five years later, it really does seem like everyone walked away a winner, mostly. The Dodgers grabbed two World Series titles with Freeman anchoring their lineup, in 2024 and 2025. And while the Braves haven’t made it back to the NLCS until this year, it’s not like they’ve been hurting at first base. Matt Olson has been an absolute machine, playing every single game for Atlanta over the past five years and crushing an average of over 37 home runs per season. So yeah, Atlanta hasn’t won another World Series since Freddie left, but it’s definitely not because they couldn’t fill his shoes at first. It was a bold move that paid off for both sides in different ways.
Now, with the Dodgers and Braves squaring off in the NLCS, all those old storylines come rushing back. Freeman facing his past, Olson proving his worth, and two powerhouses fighting for a spot in the World Series. It’s going to be electric. You definitely don’t want to miss a single pitch of this series.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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