Freeman wants to play until he's 40, retire with LA: 'I love being here'

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- After spending the past four seasons donning Dodger blue, Freddie Freeman hopes it will be the last uniform he wears in his big league career.

Freeman isn't ready to hang 'em up just yet. Far from it. The star first baseman likes the idea of playing another four years, and he's under contract with L.A. for two of those. When the time comes, he would like to retire as a Dodger.

“I love being here," Freeman said Thursday. "I’m from Southern California. I've had a great time with fans. You guys treat me great. Everyone's treating my family good.

"So that's out of my control. I'm not worried about another contract, not going to bring it up, not going to talk about it. I got two years left. I'm just an employee. I just do my job, and if they want me back, they want me back. But I think [president of baseball operations] Andrew [Friedman] and everyone knows that I love being here."

In four short years, Freeman has become a franchise icon. His walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series is one of the greatest moments in Dodgers history. He has been the model of consistency since joining the team in his age-32 season, slashing .310/.391/.516 since '22 -- and isn't showing many signs of slowing down.

The first four years of Freeman's tenure with the Dodgers have been something to remember. So what does he hope to accomplish on an individual level this year, and perhaps in the next three?

In the short term, Freeman wants to make it into all 162 games, or at least get as close as possible. He played in 147 games in each of the past two seasons, but before that, he had not missed more than four games in five consecutive full seasons.

Manager Dave Roberts has had somewhat more success with convincing him to take a day off in recent years, as Freeman knows that the team has his best interests at heart. But his goal remains to play 162 games -- and every postseason game -- regardless.

"I'm going to prepare to play 162 games, and then when that day comes or the night comes where they say, 'We're going to give you tomorrow off,' I will fight that battle and most likely lose," Freeman said. "But I want to play every game."

Then there's his performance. Freeman hit .295 last year, which was the third-highest average among qualified National Leaguers behind the Phillies' Trea Turner (.304) and the Cubs' Nico Hoerner (.297). Freeman didn't come away satisfied: It "irks" him that he didn't hit above .300.

Last spring, Freeman had to balance rehabbing his surgically repaired right ankle with getting ready for the season. He said the ankle, which he had to tape until around August, was "never really in a good spot." That could have affected his hitting, but he particularly felt that it impacted his ability to play defense.

Coming off a rehab-free offseason, Freeman plans to be better in both regards this year.

"If I can … play defense like I think I can play, and match the production at the plate, then maybe Andrew and [controlling owner and chairman] Mark [Walter] and all them will want me around a little bit longer," Freeman deadpanned.

Freeman is also thinking well beyond 2026. He's not hard-set on playing four more years, but that would give him 20 seasons in the big leagues and 23 years in professional baseball. He would retire at age 40, with more time for his family and far less time on the road.

Playing four more years would also give Freeman a shot at reaching 3,000 hits. The active hits leader in the Majors, Freeman is 569 away from reaching the milestone. That averages out to just over 142 hits per year, a mark he has reached in every full season since 2018.

Above all, Freeman's passion for the game is what has kept him going for 16 seasons, and perhaps another four. It has only grown during his time in the big leagues, and it will continue to fuel him as he nears the end of a storied career.

"The game means more to me just because it's what has gotten me through in my life. So I love this game," Freeman said. "I don't want it to end, but I get it. It's going to end. Father Time is going to catch up. We're keeping it off a long time."