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sports Diamars 15 maart 2022

With Freeman a free agent, Braves get star 1B Olson from A’s

(AP) — Freddie Freeman’s “One of the best first base- “Obviously, I know Atlanta,”
name wasn’t in the Atlanta man in the game,” Antho- Olson said. “It’s an amazing
Braves’ megadeal Monday. poulos said of his new first place, World Series champs,
Standing in front of micro- baseman. my hometown. If there was
phones, general manager one place to go and leave
Alex Anthopoulos refused He declined repeatedly to here, that’s the place to do it.
even to say it. discuss his old one. Still, he I’m excited about it.”
admitted he’s never had a
The tears welling in Antho- tougher time emotionally Freeman has been revered
poulos’ eyes explained it all. pulling the trigger on a trade. by fans and teammates in
Georgia. On Sunday, Braves
Freeman’s tenure with the “You get attached,” he said. pitcher Charlie Morton said
Braves appears to be over that if Freeman returned,
after the World Series cham- Atlanta manager Brian Snit- he expected the left-handed
pions acquired All-Star first ker was speaking to reporters slugger would one day have
baseman Matt Olson from when ESPN broke the news. his photo plastered across the
the Oakland Athletics, a fran- He said it was the first he was team’s spring training com- with the team. friend of Atlanta star Ronald
chise-altering deal that cost a hearing of the trade. plex, just like franchise he- Acuña Jr., another loss likely
prize package of four players, roes Chipper Jones and Hank “He’s going to be a good to shake the Braves’ club-
including young outfielder “He’s been our guy for a Aaron. friend the rest of my life,” house. A stellar defensive
Cristian Pache. number of years,” Snitker Snitker said Sunday. “Regard- center fielder, the 23-year-
said of Freeman. “Personally, “He’s going to be one of the less of what happens profes- old Pache has struggled to
Freeman was the 2020 NL he’s meant a lot to me.” guys with his number retired sionally, I love the guy.” hit in the majors, batting .111
MVP and a five-time All-Star and a Braves legend, not to in 22 games last season. He
over 12 seasons with Atlanta, The 66-year-old Snitker al- say he’s not already, because I Freeman batted .304 with and Acuña pulled into Braves
including as a veteran leader ready knows Olson, who think he is,” Morton said. five homers, 11 RBIs, and a camp Sunday in matching,
on last year’s championship grew up about 40 minutes 1.045 OPS last postseason, glitzy-gold SUVs.
team. He became a free agent east of Atlanta’s Truist Park A career .295 hitter, Freeman when Atlanta won its first
after the season, but even in Lilburn, Georgia. Snitker surpassed 20 homers eight title since 1995. As the Braves “My heart is broken,” Pache
then, it was hard to imag- said they have worked sev- times with a career-high 38 celebrated their champion- tweeted. “I just found out
ine the career-long Brave eral youth baseball camps to- in 2019. Freeman has a pair ship at Minute Maid Park, that I was traded to the A’s. I
wouldn’t return. gether. of 100-RBI seasons on his Freeman made it clear he know that’s the way this busi-
resume, and three other years wanted to stay in Atlanta. ness works, but I want Braves
He didn’t sign before rosters Olson is a two-time Gold where he drove in more than fans to know that I will be
froze Dec. 2 as part of a labor Glove winner with a .252 ca- 90 runs. He won the NL “This is a crazy game, a crazy eternally grateful to him
lockout that stretched 99- reer average, 142 homers and MVP award in 2020, finished business,” he said. “But ev- wherever he goes. Thank you
days. When rosters unlocked an .859 OPS over six seasons. in the top 10 of the balloting eryone knows this where my for so much support, for so
Thursday, reports indicated The 27-year-old hit 39 hom- five other times, in addition heart is.” much love and for being so
the big-money Los Angeles ers and drove in 111 runs last to claiming three Silver Slug- special to me.”
Dodgers or New York Yan- season, finishing eighth in ger awards and a Gold Glove The National League is
kees were hotly pursuing the AL MVP voting. He’s under for his defensive work. adopting the designated hitter Oakland also receives minor
left-handed slugger. team control through 2023. beginning in 2022, so there’s league catcher Shea Lange-
But Freeman’s importance to a chance Freeman might still liers and right-handers Ryan
Anthoploulos said it became Amid rumors of a coming the organization goes beyond come back, but it’s unlikely Cusick and Joey Estes. Lan-
clear to him Sunday night teardown in Oakland, Olson his impressive stats. He was given the investment in Ol- geliers was ranked as Atlan-
that Freeman wasn’t coming said he thought a trade might the unquestioned leader in son and the pride Freeman ta’s No. 2 prospect by Base-
back. At that point, he went happen. He’s happy to land the clubhouse and the face of takes in his glovework. ball America, one spot ahead
full-steam after Olson. close to home. the franchise to Braves fans, of Pache, with Cusick ninth
who implored him to stay Pache has become a close and Estes 14th.

Ozuna addresses Braves after domestic violence ban ends

(AP) — Atlanta Braves out- es dropped. The program in-
fielder Marcell Ozuna says “Yeah, I talked to my team,” cluded 3-6 months of super-
he has addressed teammates Ozuna said Monday, the vision. Ozuna also was or-
and is sorry to fans for an ar- first day of full-squad spring dered to complete a 24-week
rest last year on charges of ag- training workouts. “I spoke family violence intervention
gravated assault by strangula- to my team and said, ‘I’m program, at least 200 hours
tion and battery after police sorry, I made a mistake.’” of community service and an
officers said they witnessed anger management course.
him attacking his wife. Ozuna was welcomed by
teammates in the clubhouse “I learned everything,” he
Ozuna returned to the team Monday, and several Latino said of counseling. “I learned
this week for the first time players gathered around his how you treat a person, how
since his May 29 arrest. He locker before practice began, you be a better person, how
was placed on administrative just like old times. you be the best daddy, how
leave during Major League happen to anyone.” in May that it also observed you be a human being. You
Baseball’s investigation and “It’s good to have him back,” Ozuna throwing her against a learn everything from that.”
missed Atlanta’s World Series teammate Ronald Acuña Police body cam footage ob- wall and striking her with the
championship run last fall. Jr. said via interpreter. “You tained by TMZ Sports two cast on his injured left hand. Ozuna said he is now “on
know, he’s a such a good ball- days after MLB announced the same page” with his fam-
MLB suspended the 31-year- player. You know, on and off its suspension appeared to Ozuna said he has completed ily. He said he didn’t think
old retroactively for 20 games the field and, you know, the show Ozuna grabbing his the requirements of a pretrial he had ever spent alone time
under its domestic violence things that happened off the wife’s neck as officers arrived diversion program, a condi- with his three children prior
policy in November, allow- field, those are challenges for at their Georiga home. The tion provided by the Fulton to last summer and has been
ing him to return for the start everyone. Certain things that Sandy Springs Police De- County District Attorney’s taking them to the play-
of the 2022 season. happen off the field, they can partment said in a statement office in order to have charg- ground and toy stores.