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Atlanta Braves: 4 year offer for Josh Donaldson could affect Freddie Freeman extension

By Seth Carter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 03: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves hits a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning in game one of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 03: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves hits a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning in game one of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Freddie Freeman only has two years remaining on his eight-year deal. He’ll be 33 heading into free agency in 2022. How likely are the Braves to give him an extension and how will a potential Josh Donaldson signing affect their ability to keep Freeman a Brave?

Freddie Freeman is the heart and soul of the current Atlanta Braves. He is the face of the franchise and has been since Chipper Jones retired. At only 30-year-old, Freeman is already among the franchise’s leaders in several categories.

Freddie’s Standing In Braves’ History

  • 7th all-time in WAR (position players)
  • 25th all-time in AVG with a .293 career clip.
  • 12th in OBP
  • 10th in SLG
  • 7th in home runs
  • 5th in doubles
  • 10th in RBI
  • 7th in total bases
  • 12th in games played
  • 7th in walks
  • 13th in runs scored

Freddie Freeman has a chance to finish his career with his name mentioned in the same breath as Chipper Jones, Eddie Mathews, and Hank Aaron in Braves lore. To be remembered in the same vein as those legends, he’s going to need a contract extension, how do we do that?

Freeman has two years remaining in which he will earn $22 million in both 2020 and 2021. Freddie will then become a free agent. Freeman is one of the most prolific and well-rounded hitters in the game today, and the going rate for a player of his caliber and track record would likely put him in the $30+ million range with the likes of Anthony Rendon.

Freeman will be entering his age-33 season when he hits the market, so that does change his prospective numbers. Josh Donaldson‘s contract could give us some great insight as to how much money it may take to keep Freddie Freeman a Brave for the remainder of his career as a major leaguer.

Josh Donaldson’s contract also begs another interesting question, is it in the Braves’ best interest to lock into these pricey contracts with two guys in their mid-thirties?

In the subsequent slides we will take a look at the following:

  1. DESIRE – How badly do both parties want to remain together?
  2. Other guaranteed contracts over the next three seasons.
  3. How a free-agent contract for the aging Donaldson (and others) could affect Freeman
  4. How likely is Freeman to be around to pass the torch to someone else?
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