Brian Snitker will get to manage Freddie Freeman again in 2022. It just won’t be with the Atlanta Braves.
Because the Braves were baseball’s World Champions last year, Snitker will have the honor of managing the National League All-Stars, with Freeman virtually certain to be on the roster.
The All-Star Game is slated for Los Angeles, Freeman’s new home, on July 19.
He’d represent the Dodgers, who signed the 32-year-old first baseman Wednesday to a six-year, $162 million contract. Atlanta had been reluctant to add a sixth year for Freeman, who had spent his entire 12-year career with the Braves but would be 38 before his six-year contract expired.
The Braves instead traded for Atlanta native Matt Olson, four-and-a-half years younger than Freeman and just as proficient as a power-hitter and gifted glove man. In fact, Olson out-homered Freeman last year, 39-31, even though he played home games in Oakland’s enormous ballpark.
Although Freeman is a Southern California product who grew up rooting for the Los Angeles Angels, his homecoming will not be as lucrative as he had hoped. According to David O’Brien in The Athletic, the Braves had offered him a five-year, $140 million deal, coupled with a Georgia income tax rate of 5.75 per cent, as opposed to the deal he got from the Dodgers: six years, $162 million, with a California income tax rate of 13.3 per cent.
Olson, on the other hand, should be the big beneficiary – moving from California to Georgia on an eight-year, $168 million deal, with a one-year, $20 million club option.
Now that the dust has settled after a winter of speculation over Freeman’s next home, the National League East has taken on a new complexion. The Braves, seeking their fifth straight division crown, not only obtained Olson but re-signed fellow left-handed slugger Eddie Rosario, MVP of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.
They relish the return of Ronald Acuña, Jr., healing from a torn ACL that has been surgically repaired, and Marcell Ozuna, out most of last year with fractured fingers and legal problems.
Ozuna figures to be the designated hitter – the same role he occupied in 2020 when the NL used the rule during the Covid-shortened, 60-game campaign. All he did that year was lead the league in homers, total bases, and runs batted in.
Atlanta could also get a big boost if starting pitcher Mike Soroka bounces back after nearly two seasons on the sidelines with a torn Achilles. With Olson, Ozuna, Rosario, and holdovers Austin Riley, Adam Duvall, and Ozzie Albies, the Braves should be the Beast of the East – if not the whole league – in power production.
Their bullpen, nearly flawless during the last post-season, should also be strong. But the arch-rival New York Mets might have the best rotation after adding Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt behind perennial Cy Young Award candidate Jacob deGrom. But the Mets also lost starters Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard and key lefty reliever Aaron Loup to free agency.
New York added speed and defense in center-fielder Starling Marte, who led the majors in stolen bases, and offense in Eduardo Escobar, who will bat behind another power threat in Pete Alonso. But the Mets need comebacks from Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, and Robinson Cano (out all year with a PED suspension).
New York’s bullpen is also a question-mark in front of closer Edwin Diaz.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, bolstered its relief corps by signing ex-Mets Jeurys Familia and Brad Hand. Then it added a big bat, to hit behind MVP Bryce Harper, in Kyle Schwarber.
Washington also dipped into the free-agent pool, signing 41-year-old DH Nelson Cruz, who will make his first foray into the National League. He’ll provide support in the batting order for MVP contender Juan Soto.
With the possible exception of the Freeman departure, the Miami Marlins might have suffered the biggest loss of the off-season: the unexpected resignation of CEO Derek Jeter. He left in a disagreement within ownership over the “direction” of the club (read: lack of spending).
With exhibition games just starting and the April 7 season opener weeks away, the NL East won’t have Freddie Freeman but could face a free-for-all for the ages instead.
