The Atlanta Braves will host this year's MLB All-Star game, giving fans a chance to take a breath and recover from a brutal first half of the season. Endless injuries and veterans suffering regression have been the consistent themes of the season. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see a former team star return batting second in this year's All-Star lineup. Freddie Freeman will return yet again to Truist Park and give fans another glimpse of a presence that is missed both in the lineup and the clubhouse. It is important to note that this is in no way a shot at Matt Olson, who has been consistently impressive. Rather, it is pointing out the reality that the Braves parted ways with the best in the game.
Freeman is easily the most impressive offensive force and should've remained in Atlanta if not for front office egos getting in the way. It is impossible to justify why the Braves opted not to re-sign a franchise cornerstone over an additional year. It doesn't help matters that Freeman is coming off an incredible World Series run and has established himself as one of the league's most consistent hitters.
Former Braves' Star Freddie Freeman Making Another Atlanta Return
All of this adds up to a bittersweet reunion as the Braves celebrate hosting All-Star weekend. Freeman should still be in a Braves uniform if the front office had made the right decision. While it can be debated who is the most to blame, it cannot be avoided that it was on Atlanta to make it work with your franchise star. We've watched both Freeman and Max Fried walk out the door for reasonable deals and seen the instant impact on other franchises.
There is no longer an argument that the Atlanta front office is playing it smart or knows what it is doing letting franchise stars walk away. The frustrating reality is that one of the league's best franchises has become increasingly cheap and refuses to pay market value to its players. It is exactly why Atlanta finds itself in the current mess and is going to continue to haunt the franchise no matter how the rest of the season plays out.
Having Freeman hitting second in Atlanta's park is a great moment for a franchise legend. However, it also serves as a painful reminder of what should've been for a team that simply couldn't get out of its own way.