Freddie Freeman's retirement plan gives Dodgers perfect dynasty blueprint

When the Los Angeles Dodgers stole Freddie Freeman from the Atlanta Braves by offering him a coveted sixth year, it took the future Hall of Famer some time to adjust to life as a Dodger.

Now, he could retire in Los Angeles, just a few hours from his hometown of Villa Park, and have a real argument to enter Cooperstown with a Dodgers cap. In baseball, legacies can change that quickly.

Freeman's contract ends after the 2027 season. He will be 37 years old when that happens. If he is still an All-Star caliber player at that point, he'll have options. He still plays solid defense at first base, and has 2.5 bWAR through 94 games this season. Freeman is on pace for his best season since 2024, and has shown few signs of slowing down.

When could Dodgers star Freddie Freeman retire?

Freeman could retire at 37 when his contract is up, but he doesn't sound inclined to do so. Freeman knows he still has a lot to offer, and is chasing statistics that could make his Hall-of-Fame résumé that much greater.

“I’ve always wanted to try and play until I’m 40 years old,” Freeman said, via Dodgers Beat. “That would be three more years after this. I’m not going to put a firm number on it. I would have to get another contract, so I’m only worried about this year. But 20 years in the big leagues would be kind of cool and special.”

So, if that's Freeman's game plan, he could fit right in with a long line of Dodgers legends who performed admirably down the stretch. Clayton Kershaw, for one, won a World Series in his final season. At that point in his career, Kershaw was little more than an afterthought on the roster, but still played an important role in the clubhouse.

Freeman wants to reach 3,000 hits, a major accolade for any aspiring Hall of Famer. He is at 2,273 hits, and if he averages a shade under 200 base knocks per season for his final four years (a big ask given an expected decline), he could reach that mark.

“We’re on our way to 3,000 (hits),” Freeman said. “That would be awesome to get to. Hopefully I can stay healthy and play well enough to get there.”

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