Freeman fires agents, but ready to `move on'
DENVER >> Freddie Freeman's emotional weekend in Atlanta is over. But the fallout from his departure continues.
Freeman has reportedly filed papers with MLB ending his relationship with Excel Sports Management, the agency (with Casey Close the lead agent) that represented him during his contract negotiations with the Atlanta Braves (and the Dodgers) last winter. The players' union sent out the customary email on Freeman's behalf requesting that other agents not contact him, a step taken to keep an unrepresented player from being deluged with overtures.
In the Dodgers' clubhouse before Tuesday's game, Freeman would not discuss whether he had fired his agents for their handling of his free agency and would only say that it was “a fluid situation.” In a statement he gave to MLB. com, Freeman said he was “working through some issues with” his agents.
Freeman also said he had “learned a lot” about what went on between Braves management and his agents during an offseason fractured by MLB's lockout. He has said he had a “three-hour Facetime” conversation with Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos in the week after signing with the Dodgers that gave him a better understanding of why things played out the way they did — even though he had expressed to his agents a preference for resigning with the Braves.
“I've been gathering information,” Freeman said Tuesday.
“I've learned a lot because I've talked to the other side.”
Freeman's passion for Atlanta and the Braves' organization was evident in his return over the weekend. He cried repeatedly on Friday, both in a press conference and on the field.
If his emotions were interpreted as regret over leaving Atlanta by some, so be it, Freeman essentially said Tuesday.
“Everybody is going to perceive how they want to perceive,” he said. “I spent 15 years with the Atlanta Braves. I wasn't going to try and be a macho man about my feelings about how I had a great time with the Atlanta Braves.
“That time is over. I'm a Los Angeles Dodger now. If they want to perceive feelings, how I feel about an organization I spent half my life with, then that's how they want to perceive me and that's fine. I'm okay with that. But I've had three months. I've had time to grieve and do all my research and gather my information. It's time to move on and focus on the Dodgers. And that's what I'm going to continue to do.”
Freeman had reason to wonder how his emotions were perceived by his teammates. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday saying, “I hope we're not second fiddle. It's a pretty special team over here, too.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called the comment a “flippant remark” by Kershaw that has been overblown.
Kershaw would not elaborate on that comment when approached on Saturday, saying only that he felt the Braves did “a great job” honoring Freeman before Friday's game. In Colorado on Monday, Kershaw told reporters that he had spoken with Freeman about his comments and told him he meant no disrespect.
Freeman said he and Kershaw — who is also represented by Excel Sports Management — are “good” and the original comment didn't bother him.
“No,” said Freeman, who signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers. “I've been here for three months, I've been through a lot. I think everyone knows that. If you were in a relationship for 15 years and it ended, you're going to have feelings. And I've had feelings. I've been going through this process of grieving and now I'm in the healing process and the moving-on process.
“I think I told you guys I might not have been looking for closure over the weekend. It was special. But there needs to be closure. It's time. I'm a Dodger. I'm a Dodger for the next six years and that's where my focus lies and I'm going to continue and help win titles for the Los Angeles Dodgers.”