Freddie Freeman

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among 1B contracts at this AAV tier, Freddie Freeman's grades a B- Contract Value Index. The disconnect here isn't between his production and his paycheck — Freeman's A-tier performance grade and his decorated award history (2024 World Series MVP, 2020 NL MVP, multiple All-MLB selections, and Silver Slugger honors) confirm he remains a franchise-caliber bat deep into his mid-thirties — but rather the structural reality of a $27M AAV deal locked in for six years on a 36-year-old player. That's not a condemning verdict; it's the cost of retaining a legitimate cornerstone piece during a window when the Dodgers are actively competing (currently the #2 seed in the National League West and aggressively adding depth). The market for elite first basemen at Freeman's production level typically commands premium AAV regardless of age, and his steady play and universally positive locker-room reputation — as reflected in the current media narrative celebrating his personality and reliability — reinforce his value beyond the box score. The CVI sits at B- because while Freeman's on-field contributions justify the investment, the six-year tail on a player entering his late thirties introduces real front-office risk that a shorter, higher-AAV deal would have mitigated. For a team in active contention, this is a defensible contract anchored to proven excellence, but the longevity component prevents it from climbing higher.

Performance Analysis