PHOENIX — All winter long, Freddie Freeman’s family could sense the turmoil within him. The All-Star first baseman had just reached the pinnacle of his career, winning a World Series with an Atlanta Braves franchise that had drafted him, developed him and nurtured his rise as one of baseball’s biggest stars.
Yet, as soon as the season ended, uncertainty began to set in.
The first-time free agent didn't know whether he'd be returning to the only team he'd ever known. He wanted to, making that desire clear time and again during the 2021 season, including in the aftermath of the Braves' Game 6 win against the Houston Astros.
