Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman sets lofty goals –– for 2026 and beyond

PHOENIX –– Freddie Freeman knows he won’t win the argument. But he at least wants to put up a stubborn, symbolic fight.

Already this spring, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has signaled his intention to give Freeman more off days this coming season, hopeful that increased rest will benefit the superstar first baseman in his age-36 season.

But on Thursday, while speaking to reporters for the first time in camp, Freeman flashed a sly grin when the subject was raised.

“I’m going to prepare to play 162 games,” the nine-time All-Star and former MVP winner said with a laugh. “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. But I want to play every game.”

This is nothing new for Freeman. Over his 16-year career, he has annually set a goal of playing all 162 games of the regular season (he has achieved that twice and logged 161 in another). As a future Hall of Famer who has been defined by his consistent production and presence on the field, he is still loath –– albeit, also slightly more accepting –– to even the occasional day stuck sitting on the bench.

“As I’ve gotten older, I try not to think about that,” he joked. “But they are looking out for the best interests of me. I do understand that. So if they want to give me (a day), I’ll just say yes.”

Not without at least a little lobbying first, of course.

While playing every game might no longer be in the cards for Freeman, the fact it remains his aim is illustrative of how fresh he is feeling entering this new campaign. 

The ankle injury he initially played through in the 2024 postseason, then tediously managed for most of 2025 after undergoing surgery last offseason, is finally behind him. He arrived at Camelback Ranch this month rejuvenated by a fully healthy winter training program.

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“I took four days off (after last season) and then started working out and went right back at it,” Freeman said. “I feel really good.”

So good, in fact, he has floated a new personal goal in the run-up to this year.

At the Dodgers fanfest event last month, Freeman said he would ideally like to play another four seasons in the majors, which would push his career past the 20-year threshold. And while he clarified that on Thursday as more of a soft target for now –– “If it’s three, five, four, I guess we’ll find out” –– he reiterated his confidence in being able to remain productive through his 40th birthday. 

“Father Time is going to catch up,” he said, “but we’re keeping it off a long time.” 

Four more seasons would likely give Freeman enough time to check off yet another one of his long-term objectives: becoming the 34th member of MLB’s 3,000-hit club (he is the league’s current active leader with 2,431 career knocks, needing to average 143 over the next four years to get there).

It also means he will play past the end of his current six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers, which expires after next season.

Freeman said Thursday he would like to finish his career with the Dodgers but is “not worried about another contract” right now.

“I think Andrew (Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations) and everyone knows that I love being here,” he said. “So whatever happens, happens.”

In the meantime, Freeman’s only focus is on translating his return to full health into a renaissance 2026 campaign.

Despite the nuisance of his ankle injury last year –– which he revealed required daily treatment and tape jobs through August –– Freeman said he was still “irked” to bat below .300, finishing the year with a .295 mark that was dragged down by a poor stretch in June and July. 

He also noted that “I didn’t like the way I played defense last year,” bemoaning how his limited mobility led to more ground balls getting by him at first base.

“That’s a big, big goal of mine, is to play better at first this year, get more balls, be able to cover more things,” he said. “So that’s going to be a key for me.”

With another laugh, Freeman then referenced his long-term future again: “If I can do that really well and play defense like I think I can play, and match the production at the plate, then maybe Andrew and Mark (Walter, the team’s owner) and all them will want me around.”

And if a couple extra off days help along the way, he’ll begrudgingly allow it –– hopeful that, at the start of his 17th big-league season, the end of his playing days are still in the somewhat distant future.

“There comes a point where it’s time,” he said. “But obviously I’m not there yet. I love it. I’m still playing pretty good. So as long as I can keep playing pretty good, and they want me out there every day, I’ll keep going.”