Much has been written and speculated about Freddie Freeman's exit from Atlanta. A great deal of it has been unfair or, at the very least, dismissive of what Matt Olson has brought to the franchise. Atlanta's current first baseman deserves credit for his stellar defense and for being a consistent producer at the plate during his first season in Atlanta. With that said, one can acknowledge the overwhelming loss Freeman continues to be for this franchise without underrating the impact of Olson.
A piece of missing Freeman will always be emotional for the Atlanta fanbase. Freeman was supposed to be the face of the Braves, bridging the gap back to the days of Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox. Freeman was the bridge to the next generation of Braves and an important cog in Atlanta's lineup. So much of what Freeman brought to Atlanta continues to be missed even four years down the road. The ability to put the ball in play and execute the fundamentals while being a leader in the clubhouse isn't a presence Atlanta should have parted ways with so lightly.
Freddie Freeman is the Braves' Few Clear Front Office Blunders
Freeman's final season in Atlanta was the team's impressive 2021 World Series run that would finally break the team's postseason struggles. After winning it all in 1995, Atlanta fans had known only heartbreak for more than two decades. The leadership and impact of the veteran first baseman was a defining piece of the magical season.
However, in the years before, Freeman had been the one constant in the Atlanta lineup. Whether surrounded by the sluggers of 2021 or the rebuilding team years before, Freeman never changed. The veteran would bring the same approach to the plate that consistently resulted in putting the ball in play and finding ways to get on base.
This is exactly the skillset Atlanta's current lineup so badly lacks. Atlanta losing Freeman over an additional year, one the franchise star had earned, hasn't stopped haunting Atlanta. It has directly contributed to three consecutive years of first-round exits. The loss of Freeman continues to be felt for a team that is lucky enough to have the stability of Olson, while still admitting they made a mistake letting Freeman go.
It is easy to imagine how different this Atlanta team would have fared not only in the last three seasons but also to start 2025. Freeman is showing no signs of slowing down,and continues to show what a blunder it was to let a star walk away who was supposed to end his career as an Atlanta Brave.