The Atlanta Braves have locked up the face of their franchise to a mega-contract, giving first baseman Freddie Freeman an 8-year, $135 million deal. The deal, which is the richest in team history, includes five of Freeman’s free agent eligible years, and helps the team and player avoid arbitration this year. Freeman will make an average of $16.875 million per year.
The 24-year-old MLB All-Star batted .319/.396/.501 with 23 home runs, 27 doubles, 109 RBIs, and 89 Runs Scored in 147 games last season for Atlanta. He was an absolute beast, hitting .443 with runners in scoring position. He also finished in fifth place in voting for the National League MVP.
“Freddie has established himself as one of the best young talents in the game,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said in a statement released by the team. “We are excited to sign one of our own homegrown players to a contract that will keep him in a Braves uniform for the next eight seasons.”
Wren also indicated that the move was not contrary to the team’s policy not to negotiate with arbitration eligible players after the deadline to file numbers on the move.
“It’s a very strict policy,” Wren said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Unless talks are about a multiyear contract extension, that’s always been the policy.”
The Braves also avoided arbitration with 24-year old right fielder Jason Heyward on a two year deal worth $13.3 million.
Heyward hit .254/.349/.427 with 14 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 67 runs scored in 104 games with the Braves last season.
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Main Photo Credit: HYOSUB SHIN, AJC.COM
