After 15 years in Atlanta, the former NL MVP and World Series champion leaves the Braves for free agent millions in LA. Let’s go deep on Freddie Freeman’s Dodgers contract.
In one of the most anticipated moves of the MLB offseason, the man who recorded the final put-out of the 2021 World Series is leaving the only home he’s ever known as a professional baseball player. 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman has departed the Atlanta Braves in free agency to join the Los Angeles Dodgers on a six-year deal worth $162 million.
So, why did the Braves’ face of the franchise decide to leave? The reporting consensus is that the Braves were not willing to put that sixth year on the table.
That means the Dodgers — who were defeated by Freeman’s Braves in the 2021 NLCS en route to the Fall Classic — now have four former MVPs on their roster. Not a bad way to bounce back from losing star shortstop Corey Seager to the Rangers.
Suffice to say, this is a whole lot of money to throw around. Let’s dive into the details of the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman contract and salary particulars.
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Freddie Freeman Contract Details & Salary
All dollar figures via Spotrac.
Years: 6
Total value: $162,000,000
Average annual value: $27,000,000
Free agency: 2027-28
As of this writing, Freeman’s Dodger contract is the sixth-largest deal of the 2021-22 MLB offseason by total value and the third-largest by average annual value. Curiously, the total money is quite close to what the Braves locked in with Freeman’s first base replacement, former A’s All-Star Matt Olson, who arrived via trade and quickly agreed to an eight-year extension worth $168,000,000.
After making a career-high $22,050,000 last season, he’s poised for a Hollywood-sized pay raise.
The 32-year-old first baseman makes the Dodgers a clear betting favorite to win the 2022 World Series — and given that his new deal extends through his age 38 season, this may very well be the last contract he ever signs before wrapping up a career that’s likely to merit Hall of Fame consideration.
Click here to read Boardroom’s full breakdown of the biggest contracts signed this offseason.
Freddie Freeman’s Career Earnings
CAREER BASE SALARY: $119,832,921
CAREER BONUSES/INCENTIVES: $3,884,500
TOTAL SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2021 SEASON: $123,717,421
TOTAL SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2027 SEASON: $285,717,421
Freeman’s deal ranks, as of this writing, No. 24 on the list of baseball’s biggest active contracts by total value and No. 16 for average annual value. He finished the 2021 season No. 19 among active players in career MLB earnings.
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