Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Freddie Freeman is entering his fifth year with the Los Angeles Dodgers since joining the team as a free agent prior to the 2022 season.
Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract after he was unable to reach a new deal with his longtime Atlanta Braves team.
Freeman has only two more years remaining on his Dodgers contract, but made it clear that he wants to finish his career in L.A.
“I would like that, yeah,” Freeman said. “I love being here. I’m from Southern California. I’ve had a great time. The fans, you guys treat me great. Everyone’s treating my family good. So that’s out of my control.
“I’m not worried about another contract, not going to bring it up, not going to talk about it. I got 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 and everyone know that I love being here. So whatever happens, happens.”
Freeman, 36, hopes to play four more seasons and retire at the age of 40. Doing so would put him in rare territory as one of only a select number of players to appear in at least 20 MLB seasons.
“Well, I just think because in that fourth year, I turn 40,” Freeman explained. “I just talked to David (Vassegh) for the radio interview, and I said, four is just a number that’s floated.
“Is it less? Is it more? I don’t know. But that’s just where I’m kind of at. I feel good right now. So that was just floated because that would be an even 20 years.
“I’ll be 40. I got a family that I would like to go home to, but I do love this game. I love playing it. But for me, if I can do four, that would be 20 years, I think that’s enough.”
Freddie Freeman chasing 3,000 career hits
If Freeman plays at least four more seasons, he would have a chance to become the 34th player in MLB history to reach 3,000 career hits.
“I mean, I haven’t really thought about that,” Freeman said. “If I play like I normally do and stay healthy, I think maybe in that fourth year, I should probably get that.
“But I was just thinking more of being 40. And I think that’s good enough. I’ve played a long time. That’d be 23 years of professional baseball. I think that’s enough traveling for me. But it’s not four and set, and I’m not doing that.
“But four in my mind is the number that I’m looking forward to. But if it’s three, if it’s five, four, I guess we’ll find out in a few years.”
Freeman is the active MLB leader with 2,431 hits and would need to average about 142 to hit his goal by the end of the 2029 season.
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