"He remains a trusted advisor and friend" - When Derek Jeter sided with Freddie Freeman's former agent in Braves' contract controversy

Thanks to his heroics in the postseason, Freddie Freeman has seen his star status jump from future Hall of Famer to true celebrity. The Los Angeles Dodgers' first baseman was incredible throughout the postseason, particularly in the World Series as he clobbered home run after home run en route to his second title.

Since helping the club win the title and earn the World Series MVP in the process, Freeman has been making the rounds across the entertainment world. The slugger was a guest on Jason and Travis Kelce's podcast. He also crashed an interview of Shaboozey and Brooks & Dunn at the 2024 CMA Awards.

It's safe to say that his now iconic status with the Los Angeles Dodgers has helped him transcend the sport itself. All that being said, there was a time when Freeman could have ended up remaining with the Atlanta Braves for his entire career.

While free agency can be a stressful time, when it came to Freeman's in 2022, things got messy between the superstar and his former agent, Casey Close.

Freddie Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers. However, the first baseman would later fire Close, who led the negotiations. According to Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb, Freeman was upset that Close did not inform him of a final offer from the Atlanta Braves. This ultimately led to him ending his time with the only club he had ever played for.

Casey Close vehemently denied the allegations made by Gottlieb, with New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter even coming out in his defense back in 2022.

"I have known Casey since I was 18. Over the last 30 years, we have had our share of differences of opinion, but to this day, he remains a trusted advisor and friend. He is a man who values morals, integrity and above all else, honesty and transparency," Jeter posted on social media to defend Close.

When it comes to these kinds of situations, coming down to exactly what occurred might be difficult due to the number of factors and people involved.

That being said, both Freeman and the Braves have enjoyed success following their breakup. Freddie Freeman went on the win another World Series, whereas the Braves have been one of the top teams in the MLB with their new first baseman, Matt Olson.

Freddie Freeman and the Dodgers are built to keep their championship window open for years to come

Although there may still be some emotions involving the free agency that brought Freeman to Los Angeles, he finds himself on the cusp of a potential dynastic run. The Dodgers roster is currently loaded with talent and it may be difficult for any other team to take a step ahead of them for the foreseeable future.

The likes of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are under contract for several years. So, it would not be surprising to see the Dodgers successfully defend their crown in 2025.

It will be interesting to see how Freeman's remaining years with the Dodgers will play out. Given the talent around him, he may still add to his Hall of Fame resume before he retires.