MLB agent Casey Close, who formerly represented Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, is suing radio host Doug Gottlieb for libel, ESPN reported Thursday afternoon.
Close alleged that Gottlieb “defamed him and [his company] Excel Sports Management” when the radio host tweeted that Close “never told Freeman about the Braves final offer” before Freeman signed with the Dodgers in free agency. According to Gottlieb, Freeman’s alleged discovery of that offer spurred him to fire Close in June.
“There is no truth whatsoever to what Doug Gottlieb tweeted, and I would testify to that under oath,” Close said in a statement in late June. “We are currently evaluating all legal options in this matter.”
In one of the more shocking twists of the offseason, Freeman signed a six-year, $163 million contract with the Dodgers, failing to reach an agreement with the Braves after leading them to a World Series championship. The Braves responded by trading for slugging first baseman Matt Olson, whom they then signed to an eight-year, $168 million contract.
In March, Freeman maintained that he received just one formal offer from Atlanta, which occurred at the 2021 trade deadline. Gottlieb took that claim further, saying that Close got an offer – but didn’t tell Freeman about it.
Freeman fired Close in late June, oddly enough right after the five-time All-Star returned to Atlanta for the first time since his departure.
“Last weekend in Atlanta was a very emotional time for me and my family,” Freeman said at the time. “I am working through some issues with my longtime agents at Excel. My representation remains a fluid situation and I will update if needed.”
