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Braves deal for A's star Matt Olson, potentially signaling Freddie Freeman will leave Atlanta

The Atlanta Braves aren't waiting for franchise icon Freddie Freeman to make a decision in free agency. The defending World Series champs are swinging a trade for star Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson.

Olson, an All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, is considered a rising powerhouse who slugged 39 homers last season, even in a cavernous Oakland ballpark. After an uncharacteristically bad 2020 season, he made massive strides in 2021, cutting down his strikeout rate and posting a .271/.371/.540 batting line for the best year of his career.

Like Freeman, he is left-handed and will take aim at a friendly fence in right field.