​Dodgers could have Freddie Freeman succession plan with top prospect as retirement approaches originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to sign Freddie Freeman in free agency a few years ago after he won a World Series title with the Atlanta Braves. The former MVP is from California, so the Dodgers were able to bring him back home.Since joining LA, Freeman has won two World Series titles and is about to start the quest for a third. Retirement has been a focal point for him, and he has even gone on the record saying that it could come when he turns 40 years old.“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’ll be 20 years. I think that’s enough,” Freeman said.However, more recently, the first baseman talked about potentially retiring earlier because he is missing his youngest daughter growing up.“I’m missing things for something she’ll never know,” Freeman said. “She’s not going to know I missed these things either. But it weighs on me and my heart. I think everybody who knows me knows it weighs on me hard. I don’t like seeing my daughter grow up on a FaceTime call. When I’m sitting in a hotel room by myself at night after a game, I’m just like, ‘Oh man, what am I doing?”His contract expires at the end of 2027, putting his future with the Dodgers in question. Former Dodgers sports writer Blake Harris believes that Los Angeles should slowly start moving top prospect Josue De Paula to first base as a succession plan for when Freeman retires.“It really is remarkable how truly terrible De Paula is in left field. Just seems like there’s no other path forward than to move him to 1B in 2028 when the Freddie contract is finally up,” Harris wrote.This could be a good move, as it would allow LA to bring in a prospect who could learn from one of the best to ever do it at the position. The outfield already seems locked up for the most part, so De Paula giving a new position a go could make sense regardless.In his brief stint with the Dodgers after being called up, De Paula showed his raw power and patience at the plate. He has a bright future, and the lights might be even brighter if he does eventually take over for Freeman.More MLB news:Braves’ Chris Sale admits he was going to retire before Cy Young campaign resurgence in AtlantaBraves bring back $45M flamethrower after lengthy injury absence in time for postseason pushDodgers’ Dave Roberts hints at major Shohei Ohtani change upon returning from injured listBraves get promising Ronald Acuna Jr. injury update after exiting game, playoffs on the horizon