PHOENIX — Usually, Major League Baseball's offseason hot stove plays out behind the scenes, with executives operating in the shadows and news leaking out slowly on social media.
On Monday, however, free-agent speculation took center stage at Camelback Ranch during the Dodgers' first official workout of spring training.
Just past 11 a.m., Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes walked out of the team's offices to watch pitchers throw bullpen sessions. That's where they remained when, minutes later, news broke that the Atlanta Braves were acquiring first baseman Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics — a move that all but ensured top free-agent target Freddie Freeman won't return to Atlanta.
