Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman Sends Freddie Freeman Message Following Retirement Timeline

The Los Angeles Dodgers have minimized any slight weaknesses this offseason as they prepare to pursue a third straight World Series championship. The team added All-Star closer Edwin Diaz as well as five-tool outfielder Kyle Tucker in another free agency spending spree and, as a result, perhaps its only remaining weakness would be the relatively advanced age of its roster. Shortstop Mookie Betts struggled offensively last year and Max Muncy started the year in a harsh slump before he got prescription glasses. Recently, the team’s most important veteran, Freddie Freeman, has acknowledged that, although he still feels good, there is a clear retirement timeline in front of him. “But for me, if I can do four (more years), that’ll be 20 years. I think that’s enough,” Freeman said, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic . “I’m not worried about another contract, not going to bring it up, not going to talk about it. I have two years left. I’m just an employee. I just do my job, and if they want me back, they want me back. But I think Andrew (Friedman) and everyone knows that I love being here. So whatever happens, happens.” Though Freeman wouldn’t speak to contract specifics, he would need an extension or new deal with the Dodgers to continue playing until he’s 40. In 2022, he signed a with the team and he could be up for a new deal at age 38. While there’s still a lot of time before they’ll focus on a new contract for their nine-time All-Star and 2024 World Series MVP, the Dodgers seem interested in keeping Freeman around. After Freeman suggested a retirement timeline, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that he’d like to see him retire with the team. “I didn’t think going into that offseason (in 2022) that he would be wearing Dodger blue and now I don’t want to picture him in a different uniform,” Friedman . If Freeman can stay relatively healthy and productive, it’s easy to imagine him returning to the Dodgers. Friedman emphasized that it won’t have to be decided until the team takes another two shots at the title. “He has been right in the thick of so many incredible moments,” Friedman said on “Foul Territory.” “And so, our hope is that he does finish his career here, and hopefully he has some more rings on his fingers.”