Freddie Freeman looking to repeat as MVP in 2021

What more can be written or said about Freddie Freeman, 2020 National League MVP, at this point?

He’s gone from under-the-radar slugger to on-the-radar star to one of the game’s truly elite players over the last decade. This upcoming season will be Freddie’s 11th full season in Atlanta, and after a magical 2020 season that saw him claim the Most Valuable Player award in should-have-been undisputed fashion, he will look to somehow continue his torrid pace from a summer ago and help carry Atlanta to a fourth straight division crown.

Freddie’s shortened 2020 campaign went like this: 60 games, .341/.462/.640, 187 wRC+, more walks (17.2%) than strikeouts (14.1%), 13 homers, 53 RBI and 3.3 WAR, a pace of roughly 9 wins over an entire season. Best of the best.

While never fair to expect MVP-level contributions from anyone (other than maybe that Mike Trout fella), Freddie will begin the season right in the mix alongside some loaded competition in the NL.

The biggest question for Freeman in 2021 is an off-field matter: his contract.

As written here in our Eight Storylines for Spring Training, all eyes will be on Alex Anthopoulos as he and Freddie’s agent begin contract extension negotiations. By all accounts this is a strong relationship and everyone expects the star first baseman to stick around in Atlanta, but with all things in sports, it’s a process. Something along the lines of a five-year extension for $30 million per year seem perfectly fair to me, although I am not the one writing or cashing the check.