The Braves Are Going to Miss Freddie Freeman

Fifteen years with the Braves, the last four as a top 10 MVP finisher, Freddie Freeman appears to be worth more to the Dodgers than to the only team he has known. It makes sense only when aging curves guide teams more than the halo effect of signing, developing and keeping a franchise player.

Atlanta appeared to pivot away from Freeman, 32, Monday when it sent four young players to Oakland to get first baseman Matt Olson, who is four years younger (and two years away from his own free agency). Olson is as capable a replacement for Freeman as could be had. But he is no Freeman.

Freeman led the Braves to the World Series title last year and won the 2020 MVP, but they chose to trade for Matt Olson instead of the franchise icon.

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