March 22: The Braves announced that they’ve released Freeman.
March 21: The Braves have outrighted left-hander Sam Freeman, per a club announcement. He has been assigned to Triple-A but will have the right instead to elect free agency.
Now 31, Freeman joined the Atlanta organization as a minor-league free agent in advance of the 2017 season. He ended up turning in a worthwhile campaign and being tendered a contract for the campaign that followed.
Freeman’s follow-up effort left some questions. He finished the 2018 season with 50 1/3 innings of 4.29 ERA ball, with 10.4 K/9 against 5.7 BB/9. Freeman allowed only three home runs on the year and maintained a healthy 52.1% groundball rate. He was as usual more effective against opposite-handed hitters.
The Braves ultimately decided to tender Freeman a contract once again, settling with him at $1.375MM. But it seems the team has decided to go in another direction at this point, preferring to drop the southpaw while it is only obligated to him for 45 days of salary.
RunDMC
Oh happy day!
todd76
There’s a lot worse than Sam out there. Grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
John Sheets
Oh it’s definitely greener in this case
SalaryCapMyth
Really glad the Braves standard in this case wasn’t “meh..there’s worse pitchers..let’s keep em”.
RunDMC
Prove it!
thekid9
Amazing the comments on a guy like this. Too many Johnny Superscouts
nmendoza7
So Tomlin or someone else is getting roster’d?
bravesfan
Prob will end up happening… might be a youngest that will take it though.
ricknett
“Braves Outright Freeman” WOW!!
bravesfan
Needed to happen. He was a big disappointment last year
bhambrave
Sucks for Sam, good for the Braves.
realgone2
Freeman outrighted? Did snitker die?
Cup'ojoe Simpson
Yessss, time to go do more dumpster diving!
southi
Good luck to walk them all Sam. Hopefully he will sign with the Phillies lol.
In all honesty my initial reaction was “it’s about time!”
bravesfan
Seems like someone the marlins will go grab lol
bhambrave
And he’ll be lights out against the Braves.
Mrtwotone
Never fails lol
bhambrave
Must be a precursor to signing Kimbrel, right?
JK
writer0284
They kept running him out there in crunch time last year despite his struggles. It’s about time.
DarkSide830
Alex Wilson time
Mrtwotone
Amen
Syndergaarden Cop
good. he sucks
fw-
*High five hands Emoji*
jorge78
Freeman bats right and throws left. That should be coaching malpractice!
jorge78
And he has reverse pitching splits against batters!
GoldenArm
Anybody notice that Tampa Bay had 3 guys named “LOWE'” playing today? the 2 Lowes that Started both hit HRs off Wright in the 1st, the 3rd Lowe was a late Defensive replacement in CF, Wright told reporters after the game those 2 homers were “Lowe” Blows 🙂
bhskins05
Remember when the Braves has a,b, and c Jones playing for them?
GriffinGA
#fireAA. Worst offseason of doing nothing continues. Great article on the Braves: mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/02/14/braves-think-their-fa…
braveshomer
do you work for NBC sports or something lol?
braves25
I think he might be Craig Calcaterra
sampsonite168
“March 22: The Braves announced that they’ve released Freeman.”
O_O
fw-
*plays Bob Marley*
TradeAcuna
Hopefully Newcomb will be one of the next to go (trade or not)
petfoodfella
Oh come on.