“I like being right here. I’m from Southern California,” Freeman mentioned. “I’ve had a good time with followers. You guys deal with me nice. Everybody’s treating my household good….I’m not anxious about one other contract, not going to convey it up, not going to speak about it. I bought two years left. I’m simply an worker. I simply do my job, and if they need me again, they need me again. However I believe Andrew [president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman] and everybody is aware of that I like being right here.”
Freeman solely performs first base and Shohei Ohtani is locked into the Dodgers’ DH spot, so having each positions occupied for 4 extra years may current some roster-building difficulties down the street. In addition to that minor concern, it’s onerous to think about the Dodgers wouldn’t have curiosity in persevering with their relationship with Freeman if he stays wholesome and retains hitting wherever near his present tempo.
Since arriving in L.A., Freeman has hit .310./391/.516 with 96 residence runs, with a 149 wRC+ that ranks fifth amongst all gamers because the begin of the 2022 season. He has been an All-Star in all 4 of his Dodgers seasons, and Freeman has a pair of top-four finishes in NL MVP voting. Within the postseason, Freeman’s resume consists of the 2024 World Collection MVP trophy, and a pair of iconic walkoff homers — his grand slam to finish Sport 1 of the 2024 Collection, and his solo shot to finish the 18-inning marathon that was Sport 3 of the 2025 Collection.
The 2025 championship capped off one other profitable yr for Freeman, who hit .295/.367/.502 with 24 homers over 627 plate appearances. Freeman posted these numbers regardless of taking part in on a surgically-repaired ankle that was “by no means actually in a great place” all yr.
This offseason was regular from a well being perspective, nevertheless, and Freeman is trying ahead to an much more productive 2026, from each a hitting and defensive perspective. Freeman’s objective is to play in all 162 video games, although he acknowledges that the group will give him some relaxation days to maintain him contemporary for the playoffs.
Throughout his eleven-plus seasons because the Dodgers’ PBO, Friedman has been proactive in extending and/or re-signing a number of cornerstone gamers (i.e. Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, Max Muncy, Will Smith), so a brand new deal for Freeman definitely appears believable. This might take the type of an extension subsequent yr, or Freeman might even play out his present contract and enter free company, nonetheless with the understanding {that a} new cope with the Dodgers would nonetheless occur as soon as the group accesses different offseason enterprise.
